In the tight-knit communities of Hobart and Lake Station, Indiana, the search for 18-year-old high school senior Rodrigo “Rico” Montes has taken a grim and urgent turn. What began as a routine Sunday night cookout with friends has evolved into a desperate multi-day operation involving dive teams, helicopters, and community volunteers. The discovery of a black pickup truck overturned and fully submerged in Deep River was shocking enough. But now, reports of blood found under the nearby I-80/94 overpass — a location just east of the crash site — have intensified the mystery and the family’s anguish. Authorities are moving quickly to test the blood for DNA, hoping it will provide critical answers about what happened to the caring teenager who simply wanted to get home that night

Rico Montes was the youngest of four brothers, known throughout his circle as “very nice, very caring” — the kind of young man who always looked out for his friends and family. A senior at River Forest High School in Hobart, he stood about 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighed around 150 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. On the evening of Sunday, March 22, 2026, he attended a casual cookout. Around 10 p.m., he sent a reassuring text to his mother: “Mom, I’m riding home with friend, see you soon.” His curfew was 11 p.m. When he failed to walk through the door, concern quickly turned to panic. His family began calling hospitals and contacted police after midnight.

Early the next morning, around 4:20 a.m. on March 23, Lake Station police responded to reports of a vehicle in the water near 27th Avenue and Wyoming Street. The black pickup truck — the one Rico had reportedly entered as a passenger — lay overturned and submerged in the murky waters of Deep River. An on-duty deputy, who is engaged to marry into the Montes family, had been out searching overnight and discovered the scene. He immediately called it in, triggering a large-scale search and rescue effort. Dive teams from the Hobart Fire Department, along with drones, canines, boats, and helicopters, scoured the river and surrounding area. The Lake County Coroner’s Office confirmed that authorities initially believed a male subject was inside the vehicle.

Yet no one was found in the submerged truck. The driver, a 17-year-old friend of Rico’s, later appeared at the Montes family home around 4:45 a.m. accompanied by his own parents. According to family accounts, the young driver claimed he did not know Rico’s whereabouts, said he had walked home after the crash, and was subsequently taken for a mental health evaluation. He reportedly sustained injuries, including a broken nose and bruises. Family members have expressed frustration over what they see as inconsistencies in the driver’s account and his reluctance to speak directly with them. One brother noted the painful irony: if the roles were reversed, Rico — known for his caring nature — would never have left a friend behind.

As searches continued through Monday and Tuesday, March 23 and 24, the Montes family refused to sit idle. Armed with flashlights, they joined volunteers combing the riverbanks and nearby areas. It was during one of these efforts that family members reported discovering what appeared to be blood under the I-80/94 overpass near Central Avenue, just east of the crash site. The location is significant: it lies along a plausible route the truck might have taken, and its proximity raises difficult questions. Was Rico ejected from the vehicle during the crash? Did he attempt to seek help or walk away injured? Could the blood belong to the driver, or is it evidence of something more sinister? Police have collected samples and are conducting DNA testing to determine if the blood matches Rico or anyone else involved. As of the latest updates, results are still pending, but the find has added a layer of forensic urgency to the investigation.

The discovery of potential blood evidence has deepened the emotional toll on the Montes family. Rico’s father has broken down publicly, pleading for anyone with information to come forward. His brothers Saul, Adolfo, and Moises have spoken movingly about their sibling’s character and future plans. The family had been excitedly preparing for Rico’s high school graduation party. Conversations about his post-graduation path — possibly construction management or joining the trades through Local 150 — now feel painfully unfinished. “He could be anywhere,” one brother told reporters. “He could be walking somewhere. He could be in the water. He could be out unconscious. We just want to know where he’s at.”

Community response has been swift and heartfelt. Residents of Northwest Indiana, along with supporters from the broader Chicago area, have shared Rico’s photo widely on social media. Flyers with his description — last seen wearing a red hoodie, black jeans, and white-and-gold shoes — have appeared across Hobart and Lake Station. Local news outlets have featured SkyCam footage of dive operations and the recovery of the overturned truck. Schools and neighborhood groups have rallied, with many emphasizing Rico’s kind personality and the shock that such a responsible teen could vanish after a simple text promising he was on his way home.

The case has also spotlighted broader concerns about late-night drives among young people, the challenges of river searches in low-visibility conditions, and the importance of immediate reporting after accidents. Strong currents in Deep River, which connects to the larger Little Calumet system, have complicated dive efforts. Visibility is poor, and the submerged truck’s condition has not been fully detailed by authorities beyond it being overturned. Lake Station police have maintained an active investigation and established a command center, urging tips via email to [email protected]. The family has also provided a direct contact number, 219-716-1225, for anyone who may have seen something.

As the search entered its fourth and fifth days, hope persists that Rico may still be alive — perhaps injured and disoriented, or in need of medical attention. The absence of a body in the truck and the coroner’s office reporting no linked deaths so far offer a slim but vital thread of optimism. Yet the blood under the overpass introduces a sobering possibility: Rico may have been hurt badly enough to leave a trail, whether he was trying to get help or was separated from the vehicle in the chaos of the crash.

The Montes family continues to organize their own searches while cooperating with law enforcement. They describe Rico as someone who embodied quiet strength and loyalty. His girlfriend and classmates at River Forest High School have joined in spreading awareness, turning personal grief into a collective call for answers. In a region where communities often come together in times of crisis, the outpouring of support has been significant — from volunteers walking the banks to tips about nearby surveillance cameras.

This developing story underscores the fragility of everyday moments. A casual ride home after time with friends should never end in uncertainty. The pending DNA results from the blood found near the I-80/94 overpass could prove pivotal, either confirming Rico’s presence at the scene or pointing investigators in a new direction. Until then, the family clings to every lead, every volunteer hour, and every shared photo.

For now, the search goes on — in the river, along the roads, and in the hearts of those who refuse to stop looking. Anyone with information about Rodrigo “Rico” Montes is strongly encouraged to contact Lake Station police or the family directly. In the words of those who love him, time remains of the essence. Bring Rico home.