Adventures With Purpose, a search and recovery group known for solving about a dozen cold cases, said a six-person dive team affiliated with the group located the car in a reservoir. Oregon researchers reported the discovery in a Facebook post Sunday afternoon. “The car is upside down in only 14′ of water,” the team wrote. “We’ve confirmed that Kiely is in. Family notification. Law enforcement on their way.” The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, one of about 18 agencies involved in the search for Rodni, said it was aware of the tip and was sending deputies to meet with Adventures With Purpose. “We will provide additional information as it becomes available,” the department wrote on Facebook. The “astronomical” search for Rodni, which spanned at least two states and thousands of acres, saw police rack up 19,951 cumulative man-hours and review 1,871 tips, according to figures released Sunday by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office. Fears that Rodni may never be found had grown 10 days into the search, when local authorities announced they would cut back on search efforts to focus on the investigation. Adventures With Purpose arrived in the area early Saturday, according to Sacramento outlet Fox 40. Using sonar, divers searched several bodies of water, including Donner Lake and Boca Reservoir before the team said they made the tragic discovery at Prosser Creek Reservoir, just a few hundred meters from the location where Rodni was last seen on August 6. The 16-year-old disappeared without a trace shortly after midnight after attending a high school graduation party at the Prosser Family Campground in Truckee. Authorities say more than 200 teenagers and young adults were there, drinking and doing drugs. Magdalene Larson, who told Fox 40 she was Rodni’s best friend, said the senior’s going-away party was “much, much bigger than we ever expected,” with attendees coming from as far away as Truckee – something that was not originally planned. “There were a lot of guys coming up to us,” said Larson, who was with Rodney. “Definitely, I felt during that party that something, something didn’t feel right with the number of people that were there and how old some of those people were.” At just 16, Rodni had just graduated from Truckee High School in June, her family said. In a video released by police in the early days of the investigation, her mother, Lindsey Rodni Nieman, fought back tears as she pleaded for information. “Kiely, we love you, and if you see this, come home,” Rodni Nieman said. “I want nothing more than to hug you.” The teenager was last seen around 12.30am at the party, with the last activity on her mobile phone coming three minutes later near a lake. She had texted her mom at about 12:15 am. to say he was going home soon, but Sammy Smith, another close friend of Rodney’s, told Fox News that he was “partying” with Rodney and Rodney was very drunk. to drive home. He thought Rodni was going to stay the night at the campsite, he said. At least 1,200 tips flooded law enforcement phones, but officers struggled to gain a substantial lead. About a week into the investigation, police spotted Rodni on a video from the party. She was wearing a pink sweatshirt with “Odd Future” on it. Officers took photos of the hood in the hope that someone would locate it—either in Rodni or somewhere abandoned in the thousands of acres of woodland surrounding the camp from which it disappeared. Also released were photos of Rodni’s silver 2013 Honda CRV, which was missing from the party with her. Authorities had pleaded with the 200-plus attendees to come forward with any information they may have about Rodni. With most minors attending, police promised no one would be penalized for using alcohol or drugs – two things a police spokesman said they “know happened”. “Our sole purpose in this investigation and search is to bring Kiely home to her family and we need the community’s help,” Placer County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Angela Musallam said at an Aug. 15 press conference.
