A body found by a diver Tuesday at the Calaveras River during the search effort for Xavier Martinez is confirmed to belong to the missing Stockton teen. A civilian diver who came to help with the search for 15-year-old Xavier Martinez spotted what he thought was a body around 11:20 a.m., a spokesperson for the Stockton Unified School District said. The spokesperson later confirmed it was Martinez. The sheriff’s office confirmed the body was found and removed from the water sometime between 12 and 12:30 p.m. Martinez disappeared after being seen jumping into the river last week, following a fight at Stagg High School, where he is a student. The school district said four teens, all Stagg High School students, with the missing teen being in independent study, were involved in a fight Wednesday afternoon. Two students, including the missing teen, ran up a levee near the school and jumped into the river, but only his friend came out.Amanda Martinez had told KCRA 3 that she was staying in the area where her son was last seen in the hopes that she, or another loved one, would spot him. She was at the scene again on Tuesday. Martinez had said family members and even complete strangers joined the search for her son.One of those who joined the search, diver Juan Heredia, said he was in the water for about 30 minutes and was about 12 feet deep when he spotted the body. Heredia told KCRA 3’s Orko Manna that he planned his dive thoroughly and came prepared with equipment.”I took my rope and above 30 feet, 40 feet long. So I started doing the search, carrying my line four feet, do another pass, another four feet and do another pass, until I saw him,” Heredia said. “The idea was to locate him, secure him with a rope to make sure that he is not going to, I’m not going to lose it again, and then I went up and told my daughter, gave the signal to her that she has to call 911.”Heredia said he has been diving since 1996 and is even an instructor. Despite the dangers of diving into the river, he said he wanted to come help the Martinez family find their son.”It’s very risky, but I had the training. I knew how to approach any situation I can have in the water, but more important was to give closure to the family. And I had that feeling before, and I think that’s very important for them, so that’s why I decided to come and help,” Heredia said.Amanda Martinez, the missing teen’s mother, told KCRA 3 right before the body was found that she was grateful to Heredia for helping find her son.”We’re just highly appreciative of him coming out here,” Martinez said. “This means the world to our family. All the community coming together, all the volunteers.”Mayra Franco, the chief of police for the school district’s department of public safety, also praised Heredia.”For him to put himself out there to even just do the search… it’s going to bring closure to a family,” Franco said. ” actually was risking his life to go in there and assist in this effort.”When asked about law enforcement not sending anyone to specifically dive into the water, and instead using underwater robot cameras and surface boats, Franco said the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office did everything they could.”From my understanding, this water is very dangerous. There’s a lot of shrubbery, garbage underneath there, which made it dangerous for any divers to go in there, and so that’s why they relied on robotics in an effort to identify in the event that they needed to go down there,” Franco said.The Stockton Unified School District has been providing counseling services since the teen disappeared. People can reach the services by calling 209-933-7445, extension 8485. These resources are still available this week to family and friends despite it being spring break for the school district.“During this difficult time, the district continues to stand in support of the family and all those affected,” Superintendent Dr. Michelle Rodriguez said on Tuesday. “We will continue to offer any support needed. As SUSD Superintendent and a mother, it is my sincere desire that all involved find peace and comfort.” The family has established a Gofundme to help pay for the teen’s funeral expenses. You can donate here.
A body found by a diver Tuesday at the Calaveras River during the search effort for Xavier Martinez is confirmed to belong to the missing Stockton teen.
A civilian diver who came to help with the search for 15-year-old Xavier Martinez spotted what he thought was a body around 11:20 a.m., a spokesperson for the Stockton Unified School District said. The spokesperson later confirmed it was Martinez.
The sheriff’s office confirmed the body was found and removed from the water sometime between 12 and 12:30 p.m.
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Martinez disappeared after being seen jumping into the river last week, following a fight at Stagg High School, where he is a student. The school district said four teens, all Stagg High School students, with the missing teen being in independent study, were involved in a fight Wednesday afternoon. Two students, including the missing teen, ran up a levee near the school and jumped into the river, but only his friend came out.
Amanda Martinez had told KCRA 3 that she was staying in the area where her son was last seen in the hopes that she, or another loved one, would spot him. She was at the scene again on Tuesday.
Martinez had said family members and even complete strangers joined the search for her son.
One of those who joined the search, diver Juan Heredia, said he was in the water for about 30 minutes and was about 12 feet deep when he spotted the body. Heredia told KCRA 3’s Orko Manna that he planned his dive thoroughly and came prepared with equipment.
“I took my rope and above 30 feet, 40 feet long. So I started doing the search, carrying my line four feet, do another pass, another four feet and do another pass, until I saw him,” Heredia said. “The idea was to locate him, secure him with a rope to make sure that he is not going to, I’m not going to lose it again, and then I went up and told my daughter, gave the signal to her that she has to call 911.”
Heredia said he has been diving since 1996 and is even an instructor. Despite the dangers of diving into the river, he said he wanted to come help the Martinez family find their son.
“It’s very risky, but I had the training. I knew how to approach any situation I can have in the water, but more important was to give closure to the family. And I had that feeling before, and I think that’s very important for them, so that’s why I decided to come and help,” Heredia said.
Amanda Martinez, the missing teen’s mother, told KCRA 3 right before the body was found that she was grateful to Heredia for helping find her son.
“We’re just highly appreciative of him coming out here,” Martinez said. “This means the world to our family. All the community coming together, all the volunteers.”
Mayra Franco, the chief of police for the school district’s department of public safety, also praised Heredia.
“For him to put himself out there to even just do the search… it’s going to bring closure to a family,” Franco said. “[Heredia] actually was risking his life to go in there and assist in this effort.”
When asked about law enforcement not sending anyone to specifically dive into the water, and instead using underwater robot cameras and surface boats, Franco said the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office did everything they could.
“From my understanding, this water is very dangerous. There’s a lot of shrubbery, garbage underneath there, which made it dangerous for any divers to go in there, and so that’s why they relied on robotics in an effort to identify in the event that they needed to go down there,” Franco said.
The Stockton Unified School District has been providing counseling services since the teen disappeared. People can reach the services by calling 209-933-7445, extension 8485. These resources are still available this week to family and friends despite it being spring break for the school district.
“During this difficult time, the district continues to stand in support of the family and all those affected,” Superintendent Dr. Michelle Rodriguez said on Tuesday. “We will continue to offer any support needed. As SUSD Superintendent and a mother, it is my sincere desire that all involved find peace and comfort.”
The family has established a Gofundme to help pay for the teen’s funeral expenses. You can donate here.
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