The search for a missing 16-year-old boy in Georgia has ended in tragedy. Searchers found the body of Connor Mathis just one day after he disappeared from a church camp on Jekyll Island. When the teen didn’t return from afternoon activities on Monday evening, law enforcement and volunteers began to forage the area where the teen was last seen.
The search lasted 20 hours. Searchers found Connor’s body in the water on the island’s southern end. His cause of death was not immediately known. Many questions remain for family and friends who wonder how the boy, who Jekyll Fire and EMS said had high-functioning autism, went missing in the first place.
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Everything seemed fine at first.
Carla Mathis, Connor’s mom, posted a video on Facebook on Monday talking about how excited she was for her son to experience camp. She said he left for camp early that morning and checked in with her around lunchtime to tell her things were going great.
His mom remarked that she hoped to hear from him later that evening but the camp had mentioned campers would have limited time with their phones, so she was curious if she would get to talk to him again. Sadly, that lunchtime chat was the last time she would ever hear from her son.
Connor had never been away from home before.
Carla Mathis mentioned in her video that this was her son’s first overnight camp experience and that the pair were both a bit nervous about it. He was supposed to return from camp on Wednesday. She said he was off to a great start, and she looked forward to being reunited. “I’m already ready for Wednesday. I can’t wait to see him. I miss him,” she said in the clip.
Shockingly, she did not hear from her son again.
Connor did not return to his group Monday evening when campers gathered around 6 p.m. Camp personnel notified the Georgia State Highway Patrol, which launched a search for the teen. Law enforcement, EMS, and volunteers worked through the night trying to find the missing teen, according to Brunswick News.
The search’s command center organized the search so each person had a dedicated area to prevent volunteers from overlapping.
“We’ve got so many out right now there’s really no way to prevent that,” Sharon Courson, deputy director of Glynn County EMA told Brunswick News.
Volunteers were drawn to the search.
Travis and Erica Johnson were vacationing on the island when they heard about the missing teen, Erica Johnson told Brunswick News. She said the case pulled at her heartstrings and explained that Travis saw a text about Connor and immediately said they needed to get up to help.
“I have a cousin who has autism,” she said. “I hope anybody would do it for him.”
Locals Kristy Anderson and Christina Alcantara joined the search as well. They told the news outlet their desire to help was personal. Anderson has a family member with high-functioning autism. And as a mom, Alcantara knew she had to jump in.
“If it was my child I would want the whole world searching for him,” she said.
Officials called off the search Tuesday afternoon.
Jekyll Fire and EMS announced on its Facebook page that searchers had found Connor deceased.
“We appreciate the communities significant support in assisting with the search, and all of the search and rescue support provided by the local, county, and state officials and agencies regionally. We extend our condolences to the family and to all those in our community who knew Connor and are heartbroken about the loss of this young life,” the post reads.
Prayers and love were immediately sent to the devastated family.
“As a mother of a child with low functioning autism. My heart and prayers are with the family during this time,” one mom wrote.
“Heartbreaking I’m so very sorry. Deepest condolences for all friends family, and worked to find him,” another comment reads.
“Sending my love, thoughts & prayers to the family & all who loved & knew Connor. God bless all the rescue workers, fire, ems, police, volunteers & all involved in searching; thank you for all you do!” another person shared.
