‘We found him’: Search team helps Abilene family find missing loved one

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – On Thursday, months of endless searches came to an end after a body matching the description of Jeremy Neves was found. A car registered to Neves was found in Lytle Creek under the bridge on Loop 322.

A third-party search group, Orange Diamond Recon, which specializes in locating missing persons using advanced technology, has been on the search for months. After pinpointing the creek as a potential location for Neves by checking his last cell phone ping, a representative with the organization explained the collaborative efforts that were taken to discover the vehicle.

“My friend got hold of these guys from YouTube, and they agreed to come out here. We shared all our information, gave them all our information, and let them know why we think this bridge. They arrived this morning, and they found the car within. I don’t know how soon, but it was quick,” the representative said.

The dive team, Rapid Compassion Collective, dedicates its time to finding missing people and items. One of the team leaders, Adam Brown, explained how they found the car in the creek.

“What we ended up using here. It was a remote control sonar boat, which we could wirelessly transmit the image, and you could actually see the shape of the vehicle under the bridge over there,” Brown said. “It’s a bittersweet thing because in the end, it is someone who’s passed on, and it’s never easy for the family, but I’m glad we could bring him home today and give them some answers, and hopefully that will lead to closure.”

As they pulled the license plate from the water, Jeremy Sides, the team leader, said he was glad to be part of the family’s closure.

“It’s an amazing feeling. We have all this sonar, all the scuba diving technology, and we put it to good use. Time and time again, families reach out to us wanting help. They’re desperate for answers, and we’re more than happy to do what we can to try to bring answers to them,” Sides said.

The family was notified of the body found in the car matching Neves. His cousin, Shawn Murphy, said he is relieved to have closure after months of searching and distress.

“We’re just thankful that we found him, and we’re under the impression that there was no foul play, and we’re grateful for that. But at the same time, it’s pretty detrimental to us and we’re all pretty shocked and sad,” Murphy said. “We knew what the biggest possibility was, and we’re all just really upset, the fact that a 25-year-old son, cousin, and brother lost his life.”

Murphy added that he and his family are very grateful for all the support they have received, including that from the search parties. He said he will cherish the time he had with his cousin as he looks towards the days ahead.

“It’s unfortunate that it was his time to go. The good ones always go first. You’ve got to love those who are close around you. It’s a fast world out there,” Murphy said. “He was an amazing friend. He was an amazing brother. He was like a brother to me. He would have given his life here and his money, giving you the shirt off his back. There are a lot of bad people in this world. And he wasn’t one of all of them.”

Abilene police stated in a press release that the body has been sent for autopsy to confirm the identity and determine the cause of death.