On a quiet Sunday night in March 2026, 18-year-old Rodrigo “Rico” Montes sent his mother a simple, reassuring text that would become the last words she ever received from her son: “Mom, I’m riding home with a friend, see you soon.”

Rico, a senior at River Forest High School in Hobart, Indiana, had been at a casual cookout with friends. Like many teenagers on a weekend evening, he arranged a ride home instead of driving himself. He never walked through the front door.

Hours later, around 4:20 a.m. Monday, Lake Station police responded to a report of a vehicle in the water. A black pickup truck belonging to one of Rico’s friends was discovered overturned and partially submerged in Deep River near 27th Avenue and Wyoming Street — less than a mile from the Montes family home. The truck was badly damaged, its front end crushed, and it lay upside down in the dark water.

Rico was not inside the vehicle when it was initially located. His family reported him missing shortly after he failed to return home by his expected time. The search that followed became a desperate, round-the-clock effort involving police, dive teams from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and community volunteers.

For several agonizing days, Rico’s family clung to hope. His brother Saul Montes told reporters the family initially refused to believe Rico could have been in the truck. They described him as the baby of the family, a beloved athlete, wrestler, and friend to many who was looking forward to graduation and planning a big party. His girlfriend Mila Soto and other loved ones waited anxiously for any sign of him.

On Thursday, March 26, 2026, the search ended in heartbreak. The Indiana DNR Dive Team located Rico’s body in the river around 11:20 a.m. after an extensive operation. Authorities confirmed his identity, and the family was notified. A suspect — the driver of the truck — was later taken into custody. According to family statements, the driver had gone home after the crash, sought medical attention for minor injuries, and initially gave conflicting accounts before refusing to speak further with the family.

The final text message Rico sent his mother has become a haunting symbol of the tragedy. It was innocent, loving, and full of the everyday reassurance parents crave from their teenagers. Instead, it marked the beginning of a nightmare that no family should ever endure. Family members have spoken publicly about the pain of not knowing, the fear that he could be anywhere — walking, unconscious, or in the water — and the devastating reality that he never made it home.

Investigators continue to piece together the timeline. Rico was last seen leaving the gathering. The truck was found overturned in the river a short time later. Questions remain about the circumstances of the crash, the driver’s actions afterward, and why Rico — who was reportedly a passenger — ended up in the water. A suspect is in custody, but full details of the investigation have not yet been released.

Rico Montes was remembered as a bright, kind, and energetic young man. He was an athlete who participated in wrestling and was deeply loved by his large, close-knit family. His brother described him as the “littlest one” who brought joy to everyone around him. The community in northwest Indiana has rallied around the family, offering prayers, support, and calls for justice.

This heartbreaking case has sparked renewed conversations about teen safety, the dangers of late-night rides, and the importance of communication between young people and their parents. For the Montes family, the pain is compounded by the ordinary nature of that final text. A simple “see you soon” that turned into a permanent goodbye.

As the legal process moves forward, the family has asked for privacy while also expressing gratitude for the outpouring of support. They continue to plan how to honor Rico’s memory — perhaps through the graduation party that will now carry a far different meaning.

One text message. One ride home. One overturned truck in Deep River. The final moments of an 18-year-old’s life that should have ended with a hug at the front door instead ended in a river and a community’s collective grief.

Rodrigo “Rico” Montes will be remembered not for how he left this world, but for the love, laughter, and light he brought while he was here. His last words to his mother — “see you soon” — now echo as both a promise unfulfilled and a reminder to cherish every ordinary goodbye.