The Plymouth community is mourning the loss of Rodney Riviello, a 69-year-old local man whose body was discovered Saturday after he went missing earlier in the week. NBC Boston reported that the search for Riviello began on Tuesday when he was last seen around 11:15 a.m. leaving the Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital. Despite efforts to locate him, which included reviewing CCTV footage and coordinating an extensive ground search, the outcome was tragic.
A Silver Alert had been issued for Riviello, who suffered from serious memory impairment and was believed to have been walking toward Jabez Corner at the time of his disappearance. Volunteers and multiple agencies spent four days combing through the Plymouth area, with emergency crews conducting searches that extended out five miles from the hospital. According to Boston 25 News, a $5,000 reward had been offered for information leading to the safe return of Riviello, who lived in the Plymouth area for about 18 months prior and had ties to several other communities.
The discovery of Riviello's body at an undisclosed outdoor location brought the search to a mournful end. In statements to the press, local police and fire officials extended their "sincere condolences to Mr. Riviello’s family and loved ones." Families of individuals who were connected to the search efforts, they were thanked for their tireless work, as reported by WCVB. Also extending gratitude was Riviello's family, who released a statement emphasizing the community's tremendous support during the harrowing search.
"We are devastated by the loss of our dad. This entire ordeal has been extremely difficult and unbelievable. The only comfort we’ve had this week was holding onto the hope that dad would come home safe and relying on the incredible support that our family, friends, the media and the community of Plymouth have shown us," the family said. Continuing their plea, they also expressed, "Thank you to the Plymouth Police Department and all of the public safety agencies who have worked tirelessly since Tuesday to find our dad. And to the volunteers who have organized, searched, prayed, donated food, and held us in their hearts. We will never be able to adequately thank you enough," as detailed in a statement shared with Boston 25 News.
Police have not yet provided further details regarding the circumstances of Riviello's death but indicated that an update will be given in the coming days. The Plymouth Police Department also asked for the family's wishes for privacy to be respected during this difficult time, as noted by NBC Boston.
