Sixteen-year-old Kiely Rodni, a recent high school graduate with aspirations of a medical career, vanished after attending a party with hundreds of young people. After weeks of searching, her car and body were found submerged in Prosser Creek Reservoir in Nevada County, California. The discovery, made by a volunteer dive team called Adventures with Purpose, has raised more questions than answers. While authorities are investigating the case, the circumstances surrounding Rodni’s disappearance and the location of her vehicle have sparked suspicions.
The car of missing teenager Kiely Rodni being pulled out of the Prosser Creek Reservoir.
Doug Bishop, lead diver and investigator for Adventures with Purpose, spoke about the unsettling aspects of the case. “A 16-year-old just doesn’t disappear with that many people around and nobody knowing anything,” he stated, highlighting the mystery of Rodni’s disappearance from a party with hundreds of attendees.
The location where Rodni’s car was found has intensified the intrigue. The vehicle was discovered submerged in an area of the reservoir that had been previously searched by law enforcement. Bishop explained that the car’s location, at the end of a rough dirt road requiring a four-wheel drive vehicle, is particularly perplexing. “It’s not a wrong turn road,” he noted, suggesting that it would be unusual for Rodni to have driven down the dirt road accidentally.
Adding to the mystery is the condition of the car when it was recovered. The vehicle was found upside down, which is common in underwater car discoveries. However, the position of Rodni’s body, in the back cargo area, combined with the fact that one window was completely out and another partially open, has raised red flags for Bishop.
Doug Bishop, a lead diver with the Adventures With Purpose search-and-rescue dive team, speaks at a press conference.
“With windows down, you’re talking about seconds, not minutes [for the car to submerge],” Bishop explained. He finds it unlikely that someone would choose to crawl into the back cargo area, especially with open windows offering potential escape routes, during those crucial moments.
While Bishop acknowledges the possibility of an accident, the circumstances surrounding Rodni’s death remain deeply suspicious. The investigation continues, with authorities awaiting autopsy results and pursuing further leads. In the meantime, the unanswered questions surrounding Rodni’s final moments continue to haunt her loved ones and the community.
