Robert “RJ” Williams, 16, was found near the Broad Ripple business district after a search that began Dec. 17.
INDIANAPOLIS — Authorities recovered the body of Robert “RJ” Williams on Saturday afternoon in the White River near Broad Ripple, ending a more than two-week search for the 16-year-old who was reported missing Dec. 17 from the north-side Indianapolis neighborhood.
Williams’ disappearance drew daily searches by police, firefighters and volunteers along the riverbanks and nearby trails. Investigators had shifted from a missing-person search to a recovery effort late last week after new evidence pointed to the river. The case now moves to the Marion County coroner to determine cause and manner of death. Police said identification was based on preliminary findings that were later affirmed, and detectives remain in contact with the family as they compile a detailed timeline of Williams’ last known movements in Broad Ripple.
Williams was last seen the afternoon of Dec. 17 near the 1100 block of Broad Ripple Avenue. Family members reported that he left behind a backpack and gym bag on a riverside dock not far from the Monon Trail crossing. Over the following days, officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and firefighters with the Indianapolis Fire Department searched the river with boats and drones and walked the shoreline. On Friday, investigators said they believed Williams had fallen into the White River, based on video and items found along the water. A body was located shortly after noon Saturday and pulled from the river by a water-rescue team a short distance west of the Broad Ripple commercial strip. “This is not the outcome anyone wanted,” an IMPD spokesperson said, offering condolences to the family.
Officials said Williams was 16 and lived with family on the north side. He was described by relatives as kind, soft-spoken and on the autism spectrum, details that guided the initial missing-person alerts. Detectives noted that surveillance review placed Williams in Broad Ripple the day he vanished, with his last confirmed location near a fast-food restaurant by the river. Search crews concentrated on the White River corridor between the Monon Bridge and a series of docks frequented by anglers. The body was found within that zone. Police did not release an exact time of recovery but said the call came in early afternoon. No foul play has been announced, and investigators emphasized that the coroner’s findings will determine whether additional steps are needed. Names of responding divers and units were recorded as part of the incident log.
Broad Ripple’s riverfront has long mixed foot traffic, nightlife and access to the White River, which can run swift in winter. In recent years, police and city crews have added lighting and cameras near the Monon Trail, and businesses often provide footage when cases arise. Records show river searches in past winters when people slipped on docks or banks. Williams’ case drew intense community interest as neighbors organized flyering and social posts, and local stations aired nightly updates. The timeline—disappearance on Dec. 17, a week of searches, then Friday’s shift to a recovery mission—tracked with the evidence recovered along the river path.
Next steps include a formal autopsy and toxicology by the Marion County Coroner’s Office, typically completed within several days. IMPD detectives will finalize their report after receiving the coroner’s ruling and any lab results tied to items collected near the dock. If new information points to a criminal offense, the case would be forwarded to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office for review. Police said they plan to brief the Williams family once testing is complete and will release any significant updates through official channels. No public vigil details were announced by authorities as of Monday morning, and police did not set a date for a follow-up press conference.
On Sunday, flowers and candles dotted a railing near the river path where neighbors said search teams gathered before dawn during the holiday week. “He was loved,” said a family friend who placed a white rose by the walkway and asked to be identified only by first name. Runners paused along the Monon to read printed flyers that still hung from a utility pole. A nearby shop owner said crews had checked around storm drains and alleys in the days after Williams vanished. A jogger described the water as high and cold, with thin sheets of ice collecting along the banks. By late afternoon, police tape had been removed and traffic on Broad Ripple Avenue returned to normal, though several people remained by the river, quietly looking downstream.
As of Monday, officials said the investigation remains open pending the coroner’s report and any additional evidence review. The next expected milestone is the release of preliminary autopsy findings later this week. Police said further updates would address cause and manner of death and whether any additional searches or interviews are needed.
Author note: Last updated January 5, 2026.