LODI, Calif. — The search for Jacob VanZant came to an end Saturday after a volunteer group found remains inside of his car, submerged in a San Joaquin County river, his sister confirmed.
Adventures with Purpose claims in a Facebook post the remains found inside the white Honda Pilot are that of Jacob VanZant. Officials with the Lodi Police Department said Sunday they were aware of the discovery, but added the medical examiner has yet to officially identify the body found.
The volunteer search and recovery team based out of Bend, Oregon, says they found the car inside of a slough Saturday at the western end of Eight Mile Road just outside of the city of Stockton.
The car was 18 feet underwater and 150 feet from the shore, the volunteer group claims. Adventures with Purpose is the same group that found the car and body of missing Truckee teen Kiely Rodni in August.
VanZant was reported missing after never returning home from picking up food at Shangri La Asian Bistro & Sushi Bar in Lodi on Feb. 17.
Police classified VanZant as at-risk, launching a multi-week search effort that included search parties and signs posted in both Lodi and Stockton.
The family got a ping from his phone along 8 Mile Road in San Joaquin County, near the marina and levy area close to the second bridge, earlier this month.
