Body found in car at bottom of lake is 'more than likely' missing California teen Kiely Rodni

NEVADA COUNTY, Calif. (TCD) -- A 16-year-old girl who disappeared after a night out at a party with friends was likely found dead in her car at the bottom of a reservoir near Lake Tahoe.

On Monday, Aug. 22, officials from the Nevada and Placer County Sheriff’s Offices spoke at a joint press conference to announce updates in the Kiely Rodni investigation.

Rodni’s car, a 2013 Honda CR-V, was found in a search zone in Prosser Lake. According to Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon, a deceased person was found inside the car, and it is "more than likely" Rodni, though the body has not been positively identified yet.

Moon said investigators had previously searched the area of Prosser Lake where her car had been found. A California Highway Patrol official said her car was found "relatively close" to the party and they were investigating a traffic collision fatality.

Rodni was last seen Aug. 6 at approximately 12:30 a.m. while she attended a party with "more than 100 juveniles and young adults." In an updated release, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office said there were "200-300 juveniles and young adults" at the Prosser Family Campground.

Her car also disappeared from the event. According to KTXL-TV, one of Rodni’s close friends said the party "grew to be way, way larger than ever expected" because people from other areas drove into attend.

On Sunday, Aug. 21, Adventures with Purpose, a search-and-recovery dive team, announced divers located Rodni under 14 feet of water. The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office confirmed they learned about Adventure with Purpose’s findings and said several law enforcement agencies went to scene "to investigate the findings."

An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 23.

MORE:

• Press Conference - Nevada County Sheriff's Office
• 16-year-old possibly abducted after she disappears from Northern California party - TCD
• Missing Person, 8/6/2022 - Placer County Sheriff's Office
• Update in the search for Kiely Rodni - Nevada County Sheriff's Office
• Friends recall the night Truckee teen Kiely Rodni went missing, 8/9/2022 - KTXL
• Found - Adventures With Purpose