California teenager, 16, is found dead after vanishing at rest stop area for school project

A California teenager has been found dead after vanishing at a rest stop area for a school project.

Dante De La Torre, 16, was found in ‘a remote wooded area near the Gold Run rest stop’ off the I-80 in Placer County – about 10 miles north of his hometown Colfax on Thursday afternoon.

De La Torre had left his white Subaru at the rest stop a day before and headed out with a small shovel, a hand towel, water bottles and snow boots to collect soil samples for a project around 12.30pm.

An autopsy report hasn’t been released, but police said temperatures on Wednesday night were nearly freezing. It’s unclear why the teenager was not in school. 

‘There is no indication Dante’s death was foul play,’ Placer County Sheriff’s Department wrote in a statement.

Dante De La Torre, 16, was found dead on Thursday after vanishing near a rest stop in Placer County a day before

De La Torre had left his home on Wednesday with snow boots, a small shovel, a hand towel and water bottles around noon. His white Subaru was found in the parking lot of the Gold Run rest stop

The teenager went out to collect soil samples for a school project, but temperatures that night were nearly freezing

Police announced the teenager’s body was recovered 

Before his body was discovered, police said the teenager had left his car at the rest stop around noon on Wednesday and stopped communicating with his family. 

Police swiftly sent out a search party but urged others to not join in the efforts to find the teen. 

‘We currently have over three dozen specially trained searchers and K-9s who specialize in scent detection looking for Dante,’ police wrote in a statement. 

‘If the public begins searching the area, there is a likelihood our K-9s will lose Dante’s scent, impacting our search for him.’

De La Torre was a junior at Colfax High School and a member of the International Baccalaureate program, according to KCRA news.

The teenage also played on the school’s soccer team.  

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His body was found in ‘a remote wooded area near the Gold Run rest stop’ off the I-80 in Placer County – about 10 miles north of his hometown Colfax

De La Torre was a junior at Colfax High School and a member of the soccer team 

His car can be seen at the rest stop near where his body was found 

Several people mourned the teenager’s death on social media after hoping for his safe return. 

‘Not the news we wanted to hear,’ one person wrote on Facebook. ‘Praying for the De La Torre family. He was his father’s pride and joy.’ 

‘Such sadness,’ another person wrote.

‘He was a great kid. Loved by his friends so much. May he be remembered for his authentic loving and many friendships from Colfax High, Placer High and Weimar Hills School, sharing his spirit of giving always.

‘We celebrate his kindness, work ethic and commitment to community in everyday life and his contributions to CTV and CHS Leadership, specifically. He connected with all ages and will be remembered with love and prayers that he may Forever Rest In Peace.’ 

Another person added: ‘Our hearts are broken for Dante’s family. Our community is grieving with you. He was a great friend to Aiden and Erin.