The search for the missing Jacob VanZant has been called off by the rescue team after the vehicle he was driving was discovered. On Saturday, a dive crew recovered a body in the slough inside a car that belonged to him.
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Who is Jacob VanZant?
Jacob VanZant was a 24-year-old who disappeared in February after departing from a restaurant in Lodi, according to Sgt. Matt Latino of the Lodi Police Department.
On February 17 of this year, Jacob vanished after purchasing meals at Shangri La Asian Bistro & Sushi Bar in Lodi. Since then, the 24-year-old Stockton man has been listed as missing, prompting officials and other organizations to conduct searches in both Lodi and Stockton.
His nine-year girlfriend and childhood sweetheart Celestial Riate had pleaded fervently for details on her missing boyfriend, claiming that he was merely picking up takeaway for the couple after work when ‘he stepped out of that door and it’s almost like he vanished’.
According to Latino, the white Honda Pilot SUV that was discovered was underwater in around 18 feet of water between 100 and 150 feet offshore. “At this point, we can confirm that it did appear to be some sort of accident,” the sergeant said. “Whether or not it was intentional, or whether or not intoxicants were involved, are currently up in the air.”
Although VanZant was found, the county medical examiner’s office has not yet verified this. “The family and the dive team are confident that it is Mr. VanZant,” Latino said.
According to Jared Leisek, the diving team’s founder, the man in question seemed to be male and was dressed in a sweater. However, Latino asserted that Lodi the Police are unable to publicly confirm that description at this time.
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In a Facebook post about the incident, the rescue team stated that they “will release further information during the live stream. A full edit of our search and recovery efforts will be available in the next few weeks.”
