Body recovered in bay thought to be missing teen’s

A body recovered in the waters of San Pablo Bay on Thursday is believed to be that of a Point Richmond teenager who was missing for months, police said. The Richmond Police Department said Thursday that the body was recovered near Point Pinole, and based on the investigation so far, looks to be that of 17yearold Antoine Whittley.

The teenager was last seen on the RichmondSan Rafael Bridge on the night of Feb. 10 and disappeared mysteriously after getting out of his ridehail vehicle.

A spokesperson at the county coroner’s office said Friday that the teen’s body had not been brought in for examination or identification yet.

Sgt. Aaron Pomeroy of the Richmond Police

Department said clothing and other personal items found with the body were consistent with descriptions of Whittley.

The crew of a ferry service boat going from San Francisco to Vallejo noticed the body floating Thursday morning, threw out a marker and notified authorities, Pomeroy said. When the San Rafael Police Department’s marine unit arrived, the body was about 300 yards from where the marker was.

Police said Antoine and his friend had taken a hallucinogenic drug that had made him paranoid, and his friend called him a ride to go home. According to reports, the ridehail driver took a wrong turn and ended up on the bridge. Antoine reportedly asked the driver to pull over so he could get out of the car. Once he got out, he

called a friend, officials said.

“Antoine stated that he was on the bridge and told (his friend) that ‘They were trying to kidnap me. They are trying to get me and I’m walking on the bridge now,’ ” Pomeroy recounted in a news briefing. “He also told KJ, ‘I may have to jump off.’ ”

Authorities searched for Antoine by air, land and sea — but after nearly five months, he still hadn’t been found. They had also checked the area of the waters where he was eventually found.

Officials said the body probably only surfaced Wednesday night and had been underwater for at least five months, probably hooked on to some debris that didn’t allow it to surface sooner.

Pomeroy said that Antoine’s 18th birthday would have been on Saturday.

“The family is obviously aware that we found this body, and we believe it to be Antoine,” he said. “Hopefully this will help them close this chapter of him missing, and they can

move on and do what’s necessary for them to heal.”

Richmond police ask that anyone with any information related to the investigation contact Detective Orlando John

son at 5109654911 or ojohnson@ richmondpd.net. You may also leave information on Richmond Police Department’s anonymous tip line at 5103078177 or its nonemergency 24 hour number at 5102331214.