Body of missing Eldon teen found after rescue attempts

The body of a missing Eldon teenager has been found, according to police and an ABC 17 News crew at the scene.

Donald Parker, 17, went missing Friday night after being sucked into a drainage pipe.

“Just sorrow,” described Eldon Mayor Ronald Bly. “We hate to see something like this happen. When it rains and we have storms such as this, of course the drainage areas are full and they’re flowing rather rapidly and there’s just not any way a person could withstand the force of the water.”

Parker’s family at the scene was devastated by the discovery and requested time to grieve. The teenager’s body was found about one mile from where he fell, behind Rekus Funeral Home.

The teenager was playing in the stormwater about three-to-four feet deep and was sucked into the pipe. Family told ABC 17 News that he is a strong swimmer but bumped his head.

Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Water Division was called to the scene and a dive team began to search for the boy Friday night.

Eldon officials said the dive team dropped a life vest on one side of the drain, hoping he would catch it, and it did not appear on the other side of the drain.

The MSHP dive team did not find the teen Friday night.

Rescue crews began another search Saturday morning and discovered a body in the creek.

According to a city of Eldon news release, agencies from across the Lake of the Ozarks area helped with the search and rescue attempts.