16-Year-Old Boy Found Dead in Florida Waters. His Grandma Says Police 'Have No Clue' How He Died

Mar. 15, 2025

Eniola Olafemi, the 16-year-old boy who was found dead in waters off of Florida causeway on Nov. 17, 2024.Photo:GoFundMe

GoFundMe

A Florida teenager has been found dead days after he disappeared while on his way to school, and his family wants answers.

Police recovered the body of a person “believed to be in his mid-teens” from the waters off the Courtney Campbell Causeway on Sunday, Nov. 17, according to a news release from theTampa Police Department(TPD).

Family members have identified the victim to local news outlets as 16-year-old Eniola Olafemi.

His grandmother Cathy Jackson adopted Olafemi and his two siblings, who were living with their father in Brazil, in 2015, according to theTampa Bay Times.

Jackson toldCBS affiliate WTSPthat her grandson left for school on Tuesday, Nov. 12, but she later learned that he never arrived.

Jackson said police told her that Olafemi was identified through dental records, and that he had been face-down in the water for about two days, according to WTSP.

“They don’t know how he died," she told WTSP. “They have no clue.”

The Tampa Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Olafemi had a history of running away, but Jackson believes something nefarious may have happened, according to theTimes.

“I think somebody kidnapped him,” she told WFLA. “I really do.”

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A second body was found in the waters off the Courtney Campbell Causeway two days after the first was found, according to the TPD.

The second victim was believed to be an adult Hispanic male “believed to be in his early-to-mid 30s,” who police said also had “no obvious signs of trauma” to his body.

The two incidents “do not appear to be related” to police, who are still investigating both cases.

AGoFundMe campaignhas been launched to support Olafemi’s family following his disappearance and death.

“He was an awesome kid,” Jackson told WTSP. “He was wonderful, and I miss him.”

source: people.com