Mehki Clay, 19, whose body was found in El Dorado County lake, remembered by friends

A body pulled from Jenkinson Lake near Sly Park Recreation area lake Tuesday morning has been identified as a Carmichael man.

Mehki Clay, 19, was on a camping trip with old wrestling buddies when they decided to swim to an island, according to friends. The cold temperature of the water allegedly sent Clay into shock, which friends said led to his death.

Representatives from the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office said just before 5 p.m. Monday that a swimmer was reported missing at Jenkinson Lake and Cal Fire was already on the scene when Sheriff’s Office deputies and its dive team responded.

Clay’s body was recovered from the bottom of the lake at approximately 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, deputies said. A cause of death has not yet been determined.

Clay graduated in 2022 from Del Campo High School on Dewey Drive in Fair Oaks, according to Alyssa DeMarco, 22, who wrestled with him throughout Clay’s middle school and high school years.

“He was honestly, like, the sweetest kid you’d ever meet,” DeMarco said. “He always was smiling. He was always laughing (and) joking around, and he took what he did very seriously.”

Clay worked at Sunrise Rollerland in Citrus Heights. The roller rink posted on social media to pay respects to its employee.

“Mehki was a hardworking and kind-hearted individual who had an amazing work ethic and would always go the extra mile to help those around him,” Sunrise Rollerland management wrote on Facebook. “He was the most polite employee we have ever had, and he truly had a heart of gold.”

The rink’s post encouraged patrons to donate to Clay’s funeral GoFundMe fundraiser, organized by Rachel Clark.

“Mehki was loved by everyone he came in contact with and would give his shirt off his back,” Clark said.

Clark said in her GoFundMe post that she considered Clay her adopted son.

Clay is survived by his mother, Cynthia Clay, who could not immediately be reached for comment.

“It pains me to have to write this, but I’m setting up this GoFundMe on behalf of Cyndie Clay,” Clark wrote in the post. “No parent should ever have to bury their child.”

As of Wednesday morning, more than $8,000 has been raised by 177 donations in 21 hours — exceeding the goal of $7,500.

“He was a very positive impact on everyone around him, and he had just a sparkle in him,” DeMarco said.

Ethan Sadler, 18, wrestled with Clay during his time at Del Campo. He said he recalls Clay being the most genuine, down-to-earth person.

“I remember our senior year we’re both on the crab-walking relay race team for Sports-A-Rama,” Sadler said. “We both were laughing about how we automatically made the team because the bare minimum of people tried out.”

“He was a hard worker and just strived to be a better wrestler (and) a better student,” DeMarco said.

This story was originally published June 14, 2023 at 11:31 AM.