Body Found In Little Calumet River Identified As Missing 12-Year-Old Kyrin Carter

A dive team removed the body from the Little Calumet River just 300 feet west of where 12-year-old Kyrin Carer, was last seen at a Best Western Hotel in Hammond, Indiana.

Police said the body was found, around 8:15 p.m. Monday, by a volunteer kayaker involved in the search for the missing teen. Hammond police will provide an update later Tuesday morning.

On Friday, local agencies temporarily stopped the flow of water into the Little Calumet River in an attempt to get as deep into the river as possible to search for Carter

Carter, who has autism, was last seen around 12:30 p.m. May 15 at the Best Western Hotel near 179th Street and Cline Avenue.

His family is in town from Kansas City, Missouri to visit family. Authorities utilized every resource including K9s, drones, helicopters, ATV’s, and ground and water crews.

Hundreds of volunteers have been involved in the search.

His family members said they are too upset to speak, but volunteers have been coming by the river Tuesday, leaving flowers.

Melissa Clark from Portage came with her two kids.

“It was just me and my kids, kind of like some closure I suppose, closure on it because when I heard last night I didn’t sleep,” she said. “I didn’t get any sleep, and I know that a lot of people around here feel the same way.”

A camera in the back of the hotel captured an image of Carter as he left. And video from nearby businesses showed him running toward the river and its steep bank, Hammond Mayor Thomas M. McDermott Jr. said. Carter had run down to the river the day before he disappeared, as well, but was caught, the mayor said.

The search had continued for 10 days up until this point, as the boy’s family appealed to the public for help.

Dogs, dive teams, helicopters, horses and teams of volunteers searched the area near the hotel, including the Little Calumet River.

Dogs apparently picked up a scent near the river behind the hotel, and search crews concentrated their efforts there, but the water was murky and cold, McDermott said.

The Hammond Police Department held a press conference to talk about the case at 11 a.m. Tuesday.