Searchers recover body of teen, 17, missing in American River in Placer County

Searchers have recovered the body of a teen who went missing Thursday morning in the waters of the American River, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday afternoon.

Search crews located the teen’s body downstream from where he disappeared near the confluence of the north and middle forks, Placer County Sheriff’s Office said in an update just before 3 p.m.

“We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and all those who knew and loved him,” the Sheriff’s Office said in the 2:55 p.m. update.

The 17-year-old boy was last seen in the river near the confluence about 10:30 a.m., deputies said. Temperatures in the water were running about 58 degrees.

A witness called emergency dispatchers shortly after the teen disappeared.

Divers searched the water, and a helicopter and drones assisted in the search, which was led by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office and Cal Fire’s Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit.

This story was originally published April 9, 2026 at 12:37 PM.

Darrell Smith

The Sacramento Bee

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Darrell Smith is a local reporter for The Sacramento Bee. He joined The Bee in 2006 and previously worked at newspapers in Palm Springs, Colorado Springs and Marysville. Smith was born and raised at Beale Air Force Base and lives in Elk Grove.