MIPD recovers body of 19-year-old man in Lake Washington
Published 2:30 pm Thursday, August 13, 2026
Just less than two weeks after a 19-year-old male went missing on Lake Washington, the Mercer Island Police Department (MIPD) has recovered the body of the Yelm resident.
The man fell from a recreational vessel or entered the lake on the night of July 31 and search teams located the body in approximately 150 feet of water on Aug. 13, according to a MIPD press release.
The victim was transferred to the custody of the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, which will determine the cause and manner of death and identify the victim.
Police said that investigators utilized cellular phone location data from the victim’s phone to significantly narrow the extensive search. They also used side-scan sonar and an underwater remotely operated vehicle to look for the body.
According to a previous Reporter story, response agencies searched for the man within an approximately 10-square-mile area that included the waters surrounding the Interstate 90 floating bridge.
“We extend our condolences to the victim’s family and friends during this difficult time,” said MIPD, adding that no additional information is presently being released.
MIPD thanked the Seattle Police Department Harbor Unit, King County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit, Coastal Sensing & Survey and U.S. Coast Guard “for providing specialized equipment, personnel and expertise throughout the search and recovery operation.”
MIPD Marine Patrol officers and detectives will continue to work with the medical examiner’s office until the investigation is completed.
MIPD said in a previous press release that the preliminary investigation noted that the vessel and its occupants were on the lake during the Seafair airshow and hydroplane races and later departed the log boom area between Seattle and Mercer Island.
At approximately 10:40 p.m. on July 31, MIPD’s Marine Patrol unit immediately responded to the scene and utilized forward-looking infrared, spotlights and thermal-imaging drones. The unit received assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard, Seattle Police Harbor Patrol, Clyde Hill Police Department’s drone unit, Bellevue Fire Department, Eastside Fire & Rescue and land-based patrol units.
