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The search for a Stockton-area teen who disappeared after jumping into the Calaveras River days earlier continues.The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office said it is looking for a 15-year-old boy who jumped into the river following a fight at Stagg High School, where he is a student. The Stockton Unified School District said four teens, all Stagg High School students, with one of them 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.On Saturday, a sheriff’s boat did surface checks throughout the day. The crew onboard also used its search and recovery robot, SARBOT, which is an underwater robot camera. The sheriff’s office has used SARBOT for the past few days, as well as law enforcement K-9s and drones, but officials said nothing has come up.The missing teen’s mother, Amanda Martinez, said she has been staying in the area where her son was last seen in the hopes that she, or another loved one, will spot him.“So many mixed emotions. There’s really no — I’m just sad, I’m hopeful. I just want him to know if he is watching, you are not in trouble,” Martinez said. “Just reach out to a friend; reach out to somebody. We just want to give you a big hug and a kiss and welcome you back home.”Martinez said family members and even complete strangers joined the search for her son Saturday.“People are bringing and dropping off canoes with life jackets so we can use them for the day, and hopefully to find my son,” Martinez said. “It means the world to me. I am so greatly appreciative of everybody that’s come, reached out, reposted, just putting out the message for his safe return.”Martinez added that since law enforcement has not been able to find her son yet, she wants as many people to come help with the search effort.“If you’re willing to come out,” Martinez said. “We have kayaks, life jackets. We just need any type of help. Ground searches, knocking on doors — anything is, just anything. I’m holding up as much I can, just wishing for the best outcome.”Michelle Rodriguez, superintendent for the Stockton Unified School District, joined family and friends at the river Saturday. She said her thoughts and prayers are with the 15-year-old boy’s loved ones.“We are really hoping that since he was a strong, young man that he actually was able to get out of the water,” Rodriguez said. “No one saw either way, and so, we’re hoping that we will come forward and reunite with his family and that we’ll be able to put this behind us.”The school district has been providing counseling services since the teen disappeared. Rodriguez said those services will still be available next week during spring break. In the meantime, Rodriguez said the school district’s Department of Public Safety will continue to work with the sheriff’s office in the search for the missing teen. At least two squad cars and a few officers were seen by the river on Saturday.Family members did not want to share the missing teen’s name. But they said he is around 6 feet tall with long hair. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, gray jeans and white and black Jordans. Anyone with any information is asked to call the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office or the Stockton Police Department.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app.
STOCKTON, Calif. —
The search for a Stockton-area teen who disappeared after jumping into the Calaveras River days earlier continues.
The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office said it is looking for a 15-year-old boy who jumped into the river following a fight at Stagg High School, where he is a student. The Stockton Unified School District said four teens, all Stagg High School students, with one of them 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.
On Saturday, a sheriff’s boat did surface checks throughout the day. The crew onboard also used its search and recovery robot, SARBOT, which is an underwater robot camera. The sheriff’s office has used SARBOT for the past few days, as well as law enforcement K-9s and drones, but officials said nothing has come up.
The missing teen’s mother, Amanda Martinez, said she has been staying in the area where her son was last seen in the hopes that she, or another loved one, will spot him.
“So many mixed emotions. There’s really no — I’m just sad, I’m hopeful. I just want him to know if he is watching, you are not in trouble,” Martinez said. “Just reach out to a friend; reach out to somebody. We just want to give you a big hug and a kiss and welcome you back home.”
Martinez said family members and even complete strangers joined the search for her son Saturday.
“People are bringing and dropping off canoes with life jackets so we can use them for the day, and hopefully to find my son,” Martinez said. “It means the world to me. I am so greatly appreciative of everybody that’s come, reached out, reposted, just putting out the message for his safe return.”
Martinez added that since law enforcement has not been able to find her son yet, she wants as many people to come help with the search effort.
“If you’re willing to come out,” Martinez said. “We have kayaks, life jackets. We just need any type of help. Ground searches, knocking on doors — anything is, just anything. I’m holding up as much I can, just wishing for the best outcome.”
Michelle Rodriguez, superintendent for the Stockton Unified School District, joined family and friends at the river Saturday. She said her thoughts and prayers are with the 15-year-old boy’s loved ones.
“We are really hoping that since he was a strong, young man that he actually was able to get out of the water,” Rodriguez said. “No one saw either way, and so, we’re hoping that we will come forward and reunite with his family and that we’ll be able to put this behind us.”
The school district has been providing counseling services since the teen disappeared. Rodriguez said those services will still be available next week during spring break.
In the meantime, Rodriguez said the school district’s Department of Public Safety will continue to work with the sheriff’s office in the search for the missing teen. At least two squad cars and a few officers were seen by the river on Saturday.
Family members did not want to share the missing teen’s name. But they said he is around 6 feet tall with long hair. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, gray jeans and white and black Jordans. Anyone with any information is asked to call the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office or the Stockton Police Department.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app.
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