'Unimaginable loss': Body found in pond ID'ed as missing Morehouse student
'Unimaginable loss': Body found in pond ID'ed as missing Morehouse student
Virginia authorities confirmed that the body recovered from a pond earlier this week amid a search mission for Kyle Benjamin Coleman was that of the 19-year-old college student.
Coleman disappeared after a car crash in Fairfax County, police said. He was last seen on Saturday, June 7, around 12:15 a.m., and his vehicle was found unoccupied, prompting an investigation and search efforts in the nearby area.
In an update on June 10, Fairfax County Police said a body was recovered from a small body of water in Tysons, a city roughly 13 miles outside of Washington, D.C.
Coleman's remains were found "submerged in a nearby retention pond surrounded by thick brush," the agency said in a June 11 press release.
Previously: Body found as officials search for student who went missing after Virginia car crash
Coleman's car struck a tree, police say
On June 6, the Fairfax County Police received an iPhone 911 activation call and responded to the crash site, where they found a 2019 blue Toyota Yaris that had struck a tree.
Witnesses told police "they saw an individual flee from the vehicle and may have left the scene in another vehicle immediately following the crash," the press release said.
However, in their investigation, police did not find any other people involved in the incident. This was later confirmed through surveillance footage.
Police in Prince William County received a report about Coleman's disappearance on June 7. After sharing the missing person bulletin, Fairfax County tied the crash to the 19-year-old. The search included K9s, as well as ground, air, and underwater teams.
"While conducting this search, our Underwater Search and Recovery Unit was able to eventually locate Coleman deceased," the department stated.
Fairfax County police are leading the probe into his death.
Morehouse College releases a statement: 'Unimaginable loss'
Prior to police identifying the body, Coleman's loved ones gathered for a vigil on June 10. It was held at Battlefield High School, where he graduated in 2024, and hundreds of people attended.
Coleman was home for the summer after finishing his freshman year at Morehouse College, an Atlanta-based HBCU. The institution released a statement, calling the news "heartbreaking."
"Student Services has been in close contact with Kyle's family throughout this tragic time and will continue to offer them our full support," the statement said. "Our entire Morehouse family grieves this unimaginable loss."
Colman, class of 2028, was studying business administration with a concentration in finance. The school said he participated in multiple organizations on campus and enjoyed sports activities with his friends.
"We ask that you keep his loved ones in your thoughts and prayers as they navigate this heartbreaking loss," Morehouse said.
Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@gannett.com.
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