A body recovered from the waters of San Pablo Bay today is believed to be that of 17-year-old Antoine Whittley, the Kennedy High student who was last seen Wednesday, Feb. 10, after he exited a rideshare car mid-span on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge.
The body was recovered in the waters near Point Pinole, according to the Richmond Police Department.
“Based on the active investigation and all of the information obtained by Richmond Police Department, it is believed to be the body of Antione Whittley,” the RPD said in a statement today. “Detectives are working with the Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office, who have taken possession of his body, to conduct a positive identification. The detectives assigned to this case will continue to work all leads provided by the public to assist in answering questions for the family, friends, and our community. This case continues to be investigated as a missing juvenile and there has been no evidence of a crime being committed.”
Whittley went missing at about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, prompting searches involving multiple agencies and community volunteers of the Bay coastlines and waters.
Before he went missing, police said, Antoine was visiting a friend’s house in the 300 block of Marina Way South when he obtained a ride share to return home to the Point Richmond area. About 10 minutes after being picked up, the ride share driver dropped Antoine off on the bridge, and that was the last time he was seen, police said.
Police said the ride share driver cooperated with the police investigation and was not considered a person of interest. While driving Whittley, the driver reportedly missed the last exit in Richmond on accident. Police said something happened between the driver and Antoine that prompted the driver to stop the car mid-span of the bridge and let Antoine out. The police investigation found that Antoine exited the car on his own free will, and confirmed via cellphone records that he spoke with a friend while he was on the bridge, RPD said. The friend said Antoine believed he was being followed. The driver had also described him as paranoid that evening, police said.
The case remains under investigation, police said.
“We ask that any person, with information related to this investigation, please contact Detective Orlando Johnson at (510) 965-4911, [email protected], or leave information on Richmond’s anonymous tip line at (510) 307-T1PS (8177) or the Non-Emergency 24 hour number at (510) 233-1214.
