ORLANDO, Fla. – The body of a missing 24-year-old man was found by paddleboarders in an Orlando lake on Friday, police said.
Orlando police identified the person found as Brian Williams Bone.
Bone was out celebrating his birthday Sunday afternoon, when, according to Brian’s mom, Inez Favors, he suddenly sounded unwell during a phone conversation.
“I asked him where he was at. He said he did not know where he was at. I asked him to give me a landmark, and he could not give me a landmark,” Favors told News 6 investigator Merris Badcock. “I told him to stay there,” and both she and other family members tried to contact police.
However, shortly after she hung up the phone with Brian, his phone died and family members said he had not been seen or heard from since.
The Orlando Police Department confirmed Brian’s disappearance Wednesday night, when they shared photos of the 6 foot, 1 inch tall man on their Twitter account, but OPD did not offer any additional information when News 6 reached out Thanksgiving Day.
Family members found Brian’s car inside the PNC Bank parking garage on East Pine Street. Police impounded the car as part of the investigation, according to his family.
“He parked his car right here,” said Gunther, Brian’s girlfriend. “They walked and went to a couple bars. You know, I am sure this parking garage has cameras.”
A friend made a list of nearby cameras and family members had been trying to access them to find Brian. Family members said one local bar, Swiggs, let them see surveillance video that showed Brian walking out of their establishment on Sunday.
“I feel like people do not think this is a big deal,” said Gunther, through tears. “He is missing and this is not like him.”
Favors and other family members are now begging anyone with information to come forward.
“This makes me feel real sad. I feel empty. I’m not comfy because he’s not here,” Favors said, choking back tears. “[Others] have their loved ones with them now, but mine is missing. He is not with me, and I need him with me. I need to know what happened.”