Missing 14-Year Old Swimmer Recovered From Willamette River (UPDATED)

The search for the missing swimmer came to a close today with the discovery of the boy's body.

(KEIZER, Ore.) - UPDATE 1:00 p.m.: The Polk County Sheriff's Office, with assistance from the Oregon National Guard Helicopter have located the missing 14 year-old boy who disappeared Monday night while swimming with friends in the Willamette River near Spongs Landing.

The body of 14-year old Joe Engichy, was located at 11:00 a.m. today in about seven feet of water.

Sheriff Bob Wolfe stated, "We are glad to have found him for the family but it's still a tragic outcome."

The helicopter spotted an object in the water approximately 20 yards north of where Joe Engichy was last seen. Divers assisting Polk Count from the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Dive Team entered the water and recovered the body.

UPDATE: 9/28/09 - Polk County Sheriff's Office is continuing to search the Willamette River area for a missing 14 year old boy who was swimming with friends around Monday evening near Spongs Landing Park in Keizer.

The teen disappeared under the water near the middle of the river. Several friends in the water with the boy tried to locate him but the water was too murky and moving too fast and they were unable to locate him.

Friends then called 911 at 8:30 p.m. and emergency units from multiple police and fire agencies responded to assist. Polk County Marine Patrol assist by a rescue boat from the Salem Fire Department searched the river and bank area until around 11:00 p.m. without any trace of the missing boy.

"Polk County Sheriff's Office is continuing to search this morning and we have activated our Search and Rescue Unit, who will be assisting two Polk County Marine Patrol Boats," said Sheriff Bob Wolfe.

"We are still working on the hope that maybe he got out of the water and onto the river bank, so we are searching the area throughout the morning."

"Divers from the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office have offered assistance and will be working off the Polk County Marine Patrol Boats should we find something in the water."

Sheriff Bob Wolfe stated, "Unless you are a experienced swimmer who can swim in moving water you should not be in the Willamette River without a life jacket. The current and river conditions are too unpredictable to swim in the river without a life jacket."

A water rescue call sent the Polk County Sheriff's Office and the Keizer Fire Department to the Willamette River, near Spongs Landing in Keizer Monday night at 8:30 p.m.

It was reported that a 14-year old boy from Keizer was swimming in the Willamette when he was pulled under the water by the current and has not been seen since.

Salem-News.com Photographer Jerry Freeman responded to the scene, and was present while the search continued, with desperate family members on the beach, hoping for a miracle.

Sgt. Mark Garton with the Polk County Sheriff's Office, confirmed that the miracle didn't come and rescuers had to call it for a night, hours after darkness began to fall.

Their final assignment was getting the boy's family members to step out of the river, the last place they saw the teen alive.

Boats from the Polk County Sheriff's Office and the Salem Fire Department were on scene shortly after the call and began immediately searching for the missing 14-year old.

The boats temporarily suspended the search due to the darkness at around 11:00 p.m.

Volunteers from the Polk County Search and Rescue team along with Polk County Marine Patrol will be on scene on in the morning to resume the search.

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#EkiekNeminjohk February 1, 2020 4:52 am (Pacific time)

Hey Joe! Will I Dont Know But You Just Popped In My Head Tonight.. searching and watching your vids on YT. My Brother And I Miss you So Much..You Were The best Friend To My Brother And He Respected you So Much To Be Next TO Brother wisdom and the others by your side as they brought you in AURORA. WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU SO MUCH.THANK YOU FOR VISITING ME TONIGHT I GUESS IF IT WASNT FOR YOU I WOULDNT KNOW ABOUT THIS WEBSITE. LOVE YOU AND PLS SAY HI TO MY GRANDMA FOR ME I REALLY MISS HER. I HOPE YOU GUYS HAD A FUN CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS THIS PAST YEARS. WILL GOTTA GO SLEEP BUT THANK YOU FOR TONIGHT. LOVE YA!

Kiani April 19, 2012 10:18 am (Pacific time)

"someone loves you honey"

waiooo February 21, 2012 9:19 am (Pacific time)

yur still our hearts and i hope yu keep us in yur hearts by watching over us and guiding, so when its our turn we can be ready jst like yu :) .. much loves !!

anonymous February 10, 2012 11:26 pm (Pacific time)

you are in my thoughts and prayers bro

K54PfiNEST January 10, 2012 10:33 am (Pacific time)

Ai Tonq Ai Pos Epwe Jekk No Nqnk Iteiten Ran Me Ran ; Ai Kejiw Ai Pwa2x Pwe Kemeii Kinamwe Nqe Kewe Fansoun Ekan Jemeto Upwe Cherish Forever .. Ai Tonq Nqnk ForEnnetiinandForToriiMano

FOREVERkhiiNE December 13, 2011 9:13 am (Pacific time)

My Loves&Misses Will Always Go To Yu My Ajenqq Bro; We Knoe Your In A Bettah Place, Sorry Iht Took So Lonqq To Write- Iwe Love&Miss Yu Bro. -Ai ♥ Epwe Jekk Chaiwakk Ngenukk !

Nemin360 December 13, 2011 9:07 am (Pacific time)

Well i know yur havinq a blast up there , i knoe yur watchinq over us and quidinq thru all these probs; Well still missandLoves from the fonufan of tipis- cant wait till we meet again -♥

iiSlOppEh June 8, 2010 11:36 am (Pacific time)

wow.iguess itz my turn.sorry it took me this long to write Joe.but itz hard trynna let you go.juss know that ilove yuu alwayz braddah.and that someday we'll meet agen.im sure of dat.okay weo.im in class rite now.fourth period.juss help meh in sku.ohh teachers comin. andhearts;YEW.

SammyEngichy May 6, 2010 11:13 pm (Pacific time)

Missen You Bro Still Cant Believe Your Gone.. Rest In Paradice Smile Foe yUH jOe

gichy in guam May 4, 2010 6:13 pm (Pacific time)

miss you lil bro hope to see you up der wait for me iwe iwe ina miss you lil bro love to you

thee old frend! March 21, 2010 7:37 pm (Pacific time)

we miss you joe, but well all see you on the other side my brotha! miss your laugh and you will always be in our hearts

UdOt.bEAUtY March 16, 2010 2:44 pm (Pacific time)

WAiOOO.kAN CUZZ STiLL CANt BELIEVE YhU GONE..LUFF AND MiSS YhU

tammie March 15, 2010 12:54 pm (Pacific time)

i love u big cuzin well b 2gether again rip

SUM1 February 19, 2010 12:43 pm (Pacific time)

MAhN i JUSt fEll SO SORRY MAhN ALl i CAN SAii iS MAY U RESt iN PARAdiSE EVEN if idk NOE U..

Chendelynn (: February 8, 2010 1:58 am (Pacific time)

No Wordss Cann Explainn How Muchhh I Miss You and Love You Brahh ! God Givess - and - Takesss Awayyy ! (: I Guess It Wass Yer Timee To Go Show Him Your Jerkkinnn Techniquess Huh ? (: I Miss You - and More . Waioo , man ! I Still havee all these feelinggsss of (: IDK ! Like i saidd , wordsss cantt explainnn ! how muchh WE ALL miss and love you ! WE ♥ YOU JOE (: helpp JESUS preparee our MANSIONS - aitee ? i wanna purplee room ! lols . you know how i likee it ! (: love you !

GiChyKiNE January 13, 2010 12:41 pm (Pacific time)

Ai tONG NGONUk bRO!!..R.I.P jOENGIChY.. plz WAtCh OVAh US...

*DEEDEE* aka *RED KUOP* November 24, 2009 12:43 pm (Pacific time)

WE L.O.V.E YOOH SO MUCH DORK.. ALWAYS AND 4EVAHZ... WE HATE IT DAT UR GONE BUT ITS ALL IN GOD'S HANDS AND THIS IS WAT HE GOT PLANNED... BUT WE'LL ALWAYS REMEMBAH YOOH AND KEEP U IN YOOH IN OUR HEARTS& PRAYAHZ... MUCH LOVEZ 4RM DAH =AINOKEA= PWIPWIZ TOO AND ER'ONE ELSE.. MUCH LOVE, DEEDEE JOK

jimmy hunter November 3, 2009 12:18 pm (Pacific time)

rest in peice.. well miss you.

SLOPPEh jOENEL November 2, 2009 6:20 pm (Pacific time)

WOW JOE..ALL thESE PEOPLE lOVE ANd MiSS YU! JUS A LiL ShOW ANd tELL Of hOW lOVEd YU ARE ANd ALWAYZ WiLL bEE!! iMISS YU PASt CRAZY! WAtCh OVA YUR OVERAGE LOVER..ANd YUR FRENS ESPECiALLY YUR FAMBAM! JOE WAS A GREAT GUY WHO IS NOW RESTiN iN A bEttER PLACE! iLOVE YU JOE!

sLoppeH meL. November 1, 2009 4:22 pm (Pacific time)

Hey cuz... You are missed like crazy, and its so hard to believe that you're gone. Save a spot for us up there, and watch over your crazy family. we miss you and love you!!!! always and forever smilin for you... gichykine all the way.

October 29, 2009 11:38 am (Pacific time)

WE ALL MISS YOU.

RiRibO October 27, 2009 2:28 pm (Pacific time)

rest in peace sloppeh!!!!hope you havin a good time just keep waitin for me bro!

luis October 27, 2009 1:33 pm (Pacific time)

hey bro we will miss you,friends since 4th grade and on.

sLoppEh.Buu October 21, 2009 8:22 am (Pacific time)

Waiiiooo..Joe I Miss Yu Like krazy! Cant Believe Yu Left Without Saying GuudBye! I Nuff Yu Tiro Mano Espwa Muj...Save Me A Spot I Wanna Be Right Next To Yu When It's My Time!

DEE'LOkiSE October 14, 2009 2:01 pm (Pacific time)

WAI0000!! J0E! STiLL MiSSiN U bR0h! i L0000VE U! U ALWAYS iN MUh hEART baBY BRO!! RIP j0E ENGIChY

pwipwi tong October 13, 2009 8:59 am (Pacific time)

you were thee first person i know that never leaves with a pout..you always smile!!thatz why im always smilin for you bro!! i'll alwayz love and miss you!!see you at paradize!!! smilin for you alwayz!!

MuCh LuVv 2 yA October 13, 2009 8:58 am (Pacific time)

kA nGaSeLo MwA bRo! SaY mY hElLeRz To OuR FaThA uP tHeA!! rEsT iN pEaCe BrO! PeAcE 'nD lUvV sEnI cHoK nGaNg y4c kukuun

PEARLYY October 8, 2009 11:38 am (Pacific time)

MAYY YOU REST IN PARADISE JOE! WE ALL MISS YAHH AND WE WILL ALWAYS SMILE FOR YOU:) "SLOPPEH 22"

Liisa*Sloppeh October 5, 2009 10:29 am (Pacific time)

Joe i miss you so much...im glad you in a betta place and you lookin down on us...jus noe dat we love you and miss you and always think of you...we especially want you to noe dat we smilin foh' you!!! still cant beleive that you up derr naw!!!...Tell God we said Hi!!

SOKOLAYLAY September 29, 2009 7:43 pm (Pacific time)

RESt iN PEACE jOE..U WiLL ALWAYZ NEVA b 4GOttEN!!LUV U ALWAiZz..UR iN A SAVE PlACE NOW..dNT WANNA b.LiV dAT U NOt hEA NO MOh.!!bUT iM hAPPi UR iN A SAVE PlACE!!LUV U WAiOOOOOOOO MEMORiEZz ALWAiZz ALWAiZz b hEA Wit ME!!tONGOM WE jOk SENi NGANG PWAN SENi MEiNiSiN!!jUS fOR U i WiLL ALWAiZz SMiLE!!MiSS U AGAiN REST iN PARADiSE WAtCH OVA US

jAYMA ENGiCHY September 29, 2009 3:29 pm (Pacific time)

RESt iN PEACE jOE Ai tONGZ tO YAh

Sloppeh May[mayleen Engichy] September 25, 2009 8:28 am (Pacific time)

I love you Joe engichy. rest in paradise...and always know your number one in my heart. till we meet again my gichy bro..rest in peace and may you watch over us.

JAYMA ENGiCHY September 21, 2009 10:06 am (Pacific time)

WhAt CAN iSAY. iM STiLL iN ShOCK tHAT YER GONE. STiLL DONT WANNA BELiEVE tHE fACt DAT YOU ARE. iSTiLL SMiLE FOR YOU NO MAttER WAt. Ai TONG NGONUk jOE iDNt THiNK ANYONE CAN tOP EWE TONG iGAVE YOU andand tHE tONG YOU SHARED WiD ME. RESt iN PARADiS LOVE. WAtCH OVER ME andand tHE FAMiLY. iMiSS YOU andand lOVE YOU ALWAYZ andand fOREVER REMEMBER MY tONG tO YOU iS NONSTOP ALL DEE WAi TiL MY DiEiNG DAi.

GiChY kiNE September 16, 2009 10:23 pm (Pacific time)

...R.I.P MAh GiChy bRO jOENGiChY...

CHURYINA PWHYENMIKE September 11, 2009 2:22 am (Pacific time)

KAPONG NGENI FAMILY MEINISIN AKAWIN NGENI PAPA JEM ME MEINISIN...IWE UCHOK MJN APASA EKIS FANITEN AJENGIJENG JOE ENGICHY...EVEN IF WE DON'T KNOE EACH OTHER BUT U BEEN GONE 4M FONUFAN N UR IN A BETTER PLACE...NGE KICH EW CHOK SENI NEPOPUTAN PWAN TORI NESOPONON UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN..WE'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER U IN OUR HEARTS IWE AI TONG AI KAPONG AI PWOSS NGENI OMW FAMILY MEINISIN PWAN NGK SENI NGANG INOMW EI...NGE AMO KOPWE NENETIW NGE KOPWE PWAN AFATANA NETIPEN EMON ME EMON AM OMW FAMILY PWUN NON EI FANSOUN IEI AM MEN TURUTIW NON RIAFFOU...IWE INA MISS U BRO N ALWAYS LOVE U...

Ayleen Ph. August 28, 2009 11:01 am (Pacific time)

JOE U WILL ALWAYS BE MISSED FROM UR FRENZ ND FAMILIES...WE ALL LUV U...

dZraGitOu246 August 27, 2009 3:49 am (Pacific time)

Its soo different w/o u jOE..n its hard to blef n to deal wit dat ur gone..jOe UR never forgotten ull alwys remain in my heart ..ur alwys within and amongst us dat u left behind..U hAF bROught sOMe maNY togEther..WAiOOh JOe..eNet UFeN posituK aa LIL bRo..WaiOOOhh ina i woNt goOdbye bUT i wiLl say TiLl we MEet AGain ..aLwaYs n foRever smiLIN foH JOE~!

marshallese pride August 22, 2009 11:40 pm (Pacific time)

my condolences go out to the family and as for u Richie..keep ur head up and all my love to u and ur family!!

Tiara August 20, 2009 2:00 pm (Pacific time)

joe i miss yu and love yu sooo much skool fun life aint t he same without yu and i need yur suport rite now......yu are the best frennd anyone one could have and im gonna miss yu in class and yur always wit me

Anonymous August 9, 2009 9:09 pm (Pacific time)

RIP Joe!! you will e missed!!! Still cant believe your gone!!

SOME KINE August 5, 2009 11:11 pm (Pacific time)

waioo!! i miss you muj joe... i nuv you and please watch over me and dah famz yeah... your in my heart alwayz and i'll alwayz remember your smile and my dancing lil brahh.. woouu!! jjjooooeeee... i miss you!!

anonymous July 30, 2009 6:02 am (Pacific time)

Rest in peace Joe!!!!! Your Family and Friends are missing you ALOT....If there is anything you can do up there to help everyone out with their greif, please do so.....you were so loved by so many that its very difficult to let you go :o(

~ROMANGO~ July 29, 2009 11:02 pm (Pacific time)

RIP JOE... I MIGHT NOT KNOW HIM WELL BUT HE PASSED AWAY DA SAME DAY MY DAD PASSED AWAY AND YOU TWO WILL BE MISSED FROM EVERYBODY...FRIENDS TO FAMILY MEMBERS... IN LOVIN MEMORRIES OF BROTHER JOE AND PAPA ANDON... MAY YOU TWO REST IN PEACE... LOVE YOU TWO TO THE FULLEST...

Charsy July 29, 2009 9:59 pm (Pacific time)

.. Joe Engichy ! u will always be loved and missed !. Rest in Peace !. much love to your family !.

DeeMayTia July 29, 2009 10:52 pm (Pacific time)

Charity- RiP J0E!!! we miss n loove u... cant believe the fact your gone.. but i kno your in a better place!! MUCh l0VES T0 MUh fREND.....missin u much!! Di0RY-WAi00! RiP LiL bR0!! CANt and W0NT EVER f0RGET U bR0!! i CANT bELiEVE Y00h LEFT ME!! WITH 0UT N0 G00dbYE!!;( i L000000000VEEE U WiTh ALL MUh hEART!! and S0UL!! UR iN A bETTER PlACE N0W!! WATCh 0VER ME PLZZ!!;/ kretia-dayuuum bro! rip imma miss yooh too da fullest nd i love u soo much nd will forever! ill never forget everylittle thing boutchu! hope u like where ur at! nd agen! joe! imma misss yoooooooooooh! i love yooh!

m@rviino July 29, 2009 9:28 pm (Pacific time)

RIP bro we will miss u ur in a better place now watching over us

Fatima July 29, 2009 8:44 am (Pacific time)

R.I.P Joe Engichy. YOU WERE the greates person i've known, you were always there when i needed you the most.I still can't get use to the fact that your gone. i miss you sooo much, i know we'll meet some day in paradise...you are in a better place now. WE LOVE YOU JOE!!! you will always be in my heart♥. WE LOVE YOU>>>YOU ARE TRULLY MISSED. you will always be in my heart♥.

Mireya R. July 29, 2009 8:39 am (Pacific time)

R.I.P Joe Engichy i still cant believe you're gone... you will ALWAYZ be missed but NEVER forgotten, you will alwayz be in our hearts JOE WE LOVE YOU AND TRULY MISS YOU!

BESLYNN && ANGiE July 28, 2009 11:32 pm (Pacific time)

WAiOOOO. Rest In Paradise JOE....WE CANT BELiEVE UR GONE...JUST LiKE THAT...YOU'LL ALWAYS BE iN OUR HEARTS JOE ENGiCHY. FOREVER. WE LOVE YOU.andand MiSS YOU.

Jackie July 28, 2009 9:38 pm (Pacific time)

RIP Joe! Hope someday we will meet again in heaven

Anonymous July 28, 2009 8:59 pm (Pacific time)

R.I.P Joe Engichy!! We all love you and dearly miss you.

Anonymous July 28, 2009 6:59 pm (Pacific time)

Joe we love you! I miss you already..

Anonymous July 28, 2009 6:57 pm (Pacific time)

Joe we will miss you greatly. You were a big impact on me and with my life. R.I.P. Joe Engichy!!!!

your aunty July 28, 2009 6:14 pm (Pacific time)

RIP JOE! WE LOVE AND MISS YOU FOREVER. WE WILL SOON MEET AGAIN IN OUT TRUE PARADISE!

Anonymous July 28, 2009 6:13 pm (Pacific time)

RIP Joe! no words can express the pain we feel for you my dear nephew! We will soon meet again in the true paradise. I Love You and will Always Remember You!

Anonymous July 28, 2009 4:36 pm (Pacific time)

WE LOVE YUH JOE UR MISSD

Anonymous July 28, 2009 3:30 pm (Pacific time)

Joe you will always be in our hearts! i miss you already :(

Anonymous July 28, 2009 3:10 pm (Pacific time)

R.I.P. JOE!!

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