Autopsy: Body found in submerged car belongs to missing California teen Kiely Rodni
A body found in a car in a Northern California reservoir over the weekend belongs to Kiely Rodni of Truckee, California, the Nevada County Sheriff's Office confirmed Tuesday.
The 16-year-old girl's identity was confirmed during an autopsy conducted Tuesday by the Nevada County Sheriff-Coroner, the sheriff's office posted on social media.
"The Placer County Sheriff's Office and the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office are in communication with Kiely’s family and offer our deepest condolences to them during this extremely difficult time," the statement reads.
Rodni went missing Aug. 6 after attending a large party at a Sierra Nevada campground, authorities from both sheriff's offices said. The grounds are about 17 miles north of Lake Tahoe and 36 miles from Reno, Nevada.
Between 200 to 300 minors attended the campground party where Kiely was last seen, officials have said.
Authorities have not said exactly how the teen's car ended up in the water. Her cause and manner of death have not been released and results from toxicology reports are pending.
“This is an ongoing investigation, and no other information is available at this time,” the statement said.
On Sunday, Divers from Adventures With Purpose, a private search company, announced her body had been found in a silver 2013 Honda CR-V under 14 feet of water in Prosser Creek Reservoir, near the large late-night party where she was last seen.
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Rodni disappeared from a large party at the Prosser Family Campground in Truckee, which is next to the reservoir where she was found. Authorities said the last known ping from Rodni's cellphone was made the same night around 12:30 a.m. near the reservoir.
During a press conference Monday, an official with the Nevada County sheriff’s office said Monday that while the lake had been searched earlier, those conducting the search did not have the same level of expertise and specialized skills as divers from Adventures With Purpose.
Kiely's family wrote in a statement released Monday they are grateful for the support they have received during the search.
"While we accept this sadness cast under death's shadow, the rising sun shines light upon us, reminding us not to mourn our loss, but to celebrate Kiely's spirit and the gift that we all received in knowing her," the statement reads. "Kiely will surely remain with us even though we will not get her back."
The California Highway Patrol is now conducting a traffic fatality investigation into the incident.
Natalie Neysa Alund covers trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Body found in car belongs to missing California teen Kiely Rodni
