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SALT LAKE CITY -- The body of an 8-year-old boy, missing since June, may have been found Saturday morning.
Trejon Fite fell into a canal near Redwood Road and California Avenue in Salt Lake City back on June 13. Massive searches were conducted, but he was never found.
That is until Saturday morning, when the family continued the searching they've been doing ever since.
"Tomorrow, it'll be determined with 100 percent certainty that it's the youngster, but we believe that it is," said Det. Dennis McGowan with the Salt Lake City Police Department.
He was found where the Jordan River surplus canal drains into the Great Salt Lake. His body ended up about 15 miles from where he fell into that canal six weeks ago.
Rickey Brown, the boy's grandfather, said, "It's a terrible thing that happened. He was a wonderful kid and a great spirit."
Saturday was a day the family had been dreading, but at the same time were, hoping for. Finally, they know what happened to their beloved boy.
"He was just a real good kid, and it's sad he died doing what kids do," said Brown.
Fite was walking on a pipe over the Jordan River surplus canal when something happened, causing him to fall in.
Searchers spent several days looking for him. The search was eventually called off, but his family never gave up and continued looking for him almost every day.
Brown said, "The other day we got some more information on the water level that night and the speed of the water, so we decided to go ahead and do the search in a larger area."
A family friend on his duck hunting boat found the body among some debris where the canal spills into the Great Salt Lake, about seven miles from Saltair.
"Because of the general description of what we found, and clothing, and the size of the youngster and so forth, we're confident it's the child we've been searching for," said McGowan.
The family wishes the end result would've been different. At least now, after six weeks of not knowing, they have an answer.
"This will bring some closure and help everybody to move on," said Brown.
Family members tell KSL the water level in the area where he was found was low, making it easier to see his body. It was still tough for search and rescue members to get to.
The body is being brought to the medical examiner's office, where the identity will be confirmed.
E-mail: acabrero@ksl.com
