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Kiely Rodni case: Body found near the last location of missing teen

The discovery in a vehicle in a California lake west of Reno, Nevada, was aided by the independent dive group Adventures With Purpose and confirmed by the sheriff's office.
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A vehicle that contained human remains was discovered in a California lake near the last estimated location of missing teenager Kiely Rodni, authorities said Sunday night.

The discovery in Prosser Lake, about 35 miles west of Reno, Nevada, was announced Sunday afternoon by a private collective of divers known as Adventures With Purpose.

Those volunteer searchers shared footage of the submerged SUV on Monday, appearing to show a California license plate that matches Rodni’s SUV.

"Once we confirmed it was indeed Kiely's vehicle, we immediately notified family, law enforcement and dad and grandpa were on scene within minutes," Adventures With Purpose’s Doug Bishop told reporters on Monday.

Kiely Rodni.
Kiely Rodni.Placer County Sheriff's Office via Twitter

Andrew Trygg, a spokesperson for the Nevada County Sheriff's Office, said late Sunday afternoon that investigators were at the scene trying to determine whether the vehicle is the one Rodni drove.

The neighboring Placer County Sheriff's Office later confirmed the dive team's report that a body was inside, but it said the identity of the deceased has not been determined.

A press conferenced is scheduled for Monday morning, local time.

In a statement, Adventures With Purpose said it had found a vehicle and remains in the lake.

The car was found in 14 feet of water, about 55 feet from shore, the team said. Bishop said the discovery, about 300 yards from the campground, was made with the help of sonar imaging technology.

Authorities had said they were looking for a 2013 Honda CR-V that Rodni was driving. A vehicle pulled from the lake Sunday night was quickly covered with what appeared to be sheets or tarp.

Rodni and the vehicle disappeared after her cellphone last transmitted information about 12:30 a.m. Aug. 6 at a party near the lake's Prosser Family Campground. Authorities had focused on a possible abduction and noted multiple times the presence of young people attending the celebration.

More than two weeks of looking for Rodni included an 80-mile-radius search by air, a search of the lake Thursday by a dive team from the Placer County Sheriff’s Office and a compliance sweep on Thursday of locals who have been convicted of sex-related offenses, which in California can include indecent exposure during public urination.

Adventures With Purpose reported its find after it joined the search Friday.

Rodni was last seen at an outdoor party with more than 100 other people Aug. 6 near the campground north of Truckee, California, local authorities said.

The campground is on a finger of land with lake shore in nearly every direction.

Rodni's family said in a statement Saturday that they sought time away from the spotlight.

"As we remind one another to breath deep and focus on our own self-care, we find ourselves needing a private and quiet space to begin healing and secure our footing before stepping into tomorrow," it said.

The statement continued: "We will celebrate together when you are home and make our harmony perfect again. We love you Kiely, forever and always."