MUNCIE, IN — The search for Matthew Morey ended on the late morning of Saturday, Aug. 15, when the Albany teenager’s body was recovered from the Mississinewa River.
Morey — a recent Delta High School graduate who had planned to leave this weekend to attend Purdue University — had not been seen since about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, when he and three friends jumped into the rain-swollen Mississinewa River from the iron bridge along Gregory Road northwest of Albany.
Emergency responders were called to the scene and the other three young men were fairly quickly found and removed from the river.
The 19-year-old Morey, however, was not found. Efforts to search for him that night and on Thursday and Friday were hampered by “rising water levels and increasingly dangerous conditions,” according to Chief Deputy Jeff Stanley of the Delaware County Sheriff’s Department. The amount of rainfall in Delaware County beginning Tuesday night has reportedly exceeded all local records.
The search efforts resumed on Saturday, and the teen’s body was recovered from the river, reportedly within 200 yards of the bridge.
“Our hearts are with Matthew’s family, friends, classmates, and everyone who knew and loved him,” Stanley said. “We ask that our community continue to keep his family in their thoughts and prayers and respect their privacy as they grieve this tragic loss.”
On Friday evening, a prayer vigil for Morey was held at Center Chapel,
“We are here because Matthew matters to us, and a young life matters,” Pastor Jeff Hughes said at the vigil. “A family matters. A school matters. A community matters. And right now, we are carrying something very heavy that is incredibly difficult, that no one should carry alone.”
Stanley said the search efforts involved boats, drones, a helicopter, K9 teams and participants — including police officers, firefighters, other emergency responders and volunteers — walking the riverbanks.
“We are extremely grateful for the long hours, dedication, professionalism and cooperation showed by everyone involved,” the chief deputy said.
“From the beginning, we made a commitment to Matthew’s family that we would not give up until they had answers. Today, that search has come to an end.”
Delaware County Coroner Gavin Greene, who was at the scene along the river on Saturday, said an autopsy would be conducted Monday at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital.
Confirmation of Morey’s death means that two Delaware County residents have lost their lives in the wake of the heavy rain and flooding that hit East Central Indiana in recent days.
On Friday, the body of Stephanie Sallee, a 59-year-old Muncie resident, was found in a cornfield along Bell Creek Road southwest of Muncie, a short distance from her disabled vehicle.
Investigators with the sheriff’s department believe she was driving through deep water when her car was swept from the road by the strong current. She apparently was “overcome by the moving water” when she tried to leave the vehicle, Stanley said.
Douglas Walker is a news reporter for The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Search ends in sorrow as Albany teen’s body is recovered from river
Reporting by Douglas Walker, Muncie Star Press / Muncie Star Press
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By Douglas Walker, Muncie Star Press | USA TODAY Network
