Altariq Hickson was last seen at his home in Roxbury, prior to a missing persons investigation being launched six days later.
Hickson’s personal belongings were discovered on Mine Hill Beach, and a search of the area was conducted by the Morris County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, and the Morris County Office of Emergency Management, Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll said.
A subsequent search of Sunset Lake by the New Jersey State Police led to the recovery of a body on Tuesday, March 19, believed to be Hickson, Carroll said alongside Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, and Roxbury Police Chief Dean Adone.
The Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office took possession of the body and later confirmed it to be Hickson, Carroll said. The cause of death was drowning and the manner of death to be accidental, the MCMEO determined.
While the investigation remains ongoing, the incident has been deemed not suspicious, Carroll said.
The investigation is being conducted by the Roxbury Township Police Department, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, and the MCPO Missing Persons Unit.
Anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to contact the Roxbury Police Department at 973-448-2100 or the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office at 973-285-6200.
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