Body Of Missing 22-Year-Old Virginia Man Found In Local Creek

Upon considering the police's investigation lackluster, his family started a GoFundMe to raise funds for a private investigator to find their loved one.

The body of Darius Appiah, a 22-year-old from Virginia who was reported missing back in January, was found by Hazel Run creek in Fredericksburg on Feb. 3. The search for Appiah gained national traction as his family rallied for public support in finding him.

According to WUSA9, Appiah’s body was positively identified by the Fredericksburg Police Department upon its discovery in the creek, which is located in Alum Springs Park. Appiah’s family and volunteers were conducting an additional search in the area when a body was identified one hour into the process. Police immediately arrived to recover what was later revealed to be Appiah’s body from the scene.

Appiah was reported missing on Jan. 25, one day after he’d gone to get food on his way home from work. His family called for public attention and assistance, believing the police department’s investigation was lackluster. They started a GoFundMe to raise funds for a private investigator to find their loved one. The GoFundMe raised nearly half of its $50,000 goal.

Fredericksburg’s Police Information Officer Sarah Morris said the police made every effort to find and bring Appiah, who was 22 years old, back home.

“Last Friday Mr. Appiah’s vehicle was found in Alum Springs Park; the park closed and at that point Fredericksburg law enforcement and the fire department started to search the entire park,” stated Morris. “Over a two-day period, 400 acres were searched up and down; there was not a stone that went unturned. Fortunately and unfortunately nothing was recovered, so at that point the investigation concluded in terms of a large search.”

Appiah’s family told the news outlet they were unable to release a formal statement at the time and that their hearts were broken at the loss.

Meanwhile, they are waiting to learn his cause of death. Authorities saw no obvious signs of foul play. An autopsy is scheduled to provide more insight into what may have occurred.