Kiely Rodni

Kiely Rodni: Coroner Rules Teen’s Death Was Accidental Drowning

Kiely Rodni, a 16-year-old girl who went missing after a large party by a California lake in August, died accidentally by drowning.

The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office Coroner made the ruling after completing an autopsy and other tests, KRNV reported.

“This ruling is based on the pathologist’s finding that her death was the result of drowning and that there was no other information to suggest she was the victim of foul play,” the sheriff’s office said.

Rodni was last seen at the party near the Prosser Family Campground in Truckee on August 6 along with as many as 200 other people. She texted her mother at about 12:30 a.m. that morning to say she was headed home and reportedly also called a friend to say goodbye, but she disappeared after leaving the campground parking lot.

An intensive search ensued, but nothing was found until an independent diving group, Adventures with Purpose, found a car not far from the campground in Prosser lake on August 23. They believed it was Rodni’s car, and a body believed to be Rodni’s was found inside. The coroner confirmed the identity two days later.

The coroner did not say if a toxicology report was done and if so, what it showed. The sheriff’s office asked for privacy for the family.

From maps of the location, it appeared that Rodni likely made a wrong turn leaving the campground and drove into the lake in the dark. He car was found upside down in 14 feet of water.

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[Featured image: Kiely Rodni/Handout]