The search for the 13-year-old boy, Gregorio Maximiano-Solano, who disappeared in the Willamette River, tragically came to an end as officials located his body. Announced by the Independence Police Department, his remains were discovered at Keizer Rapids Park, as reported by KOIN 6 News. Independence Police Chief Robert Mason conveyed his condolences, stating, "My heart is, and has been, with the Solano family these past several days," expressing a collective desire for healing.
The boy had been missing since Sunday evening, prompting a swift response involving Polk County Fire District No. 1 and local police authorities. However, after more than a day with no clues found, the search transitioned from a frantic rescue to a somber recovery operation. Multiple county dive teams and the US Coast Guard aided in the effort. Gregorio's family and volunteers had hoped for resolution and sought closure, as mentioned in an article by KGW.
As details emerged, Geronimo Serapio, a cousin of Gregorio, reminisced with local media about the young boy's character: "He was nice; he was playful," and shared how volunteers and family members traveled from California to support the search efforts at Riverview Park, which had been closed during the search operation, according to an interview Serapio gave to KGW.
The multi-agency efforts that followed Gregorio's disappearance included the dive teams and boat patrols of Multnomah and Lane counties. Despite days of tireless searching, these endeavors ultimately culminated in sorrow rather than the reunion many had hoped for. The family found a measure of solace in retrieval, as noted by KPTV. Chief Mason's statement, reported by them, was, "My hope is our community can transition into a place of healing now that Gregorio has been found."
