Authorities have identified 18-year-old Matthew Morey, a college-bound football star, as the latest victim of severe flooding in Indiana. Morey's body was discovered over the weekend after he and three companions jumped from a bridge into the swollen Mississinewa River near Muncie on Wednesday. Rescue efforts were hampered by the dangerous floodwaters, preventing workers from reaching the group until Morey was found.
"There are no words that can ease the pain of losing a child," the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office stated in a release. "Our hearts are with Matthew’s family, friends, classmates, and everyone who knew and loved him."
The circumstances leading to the group jumping into the river during the active flooding remain unclear. The other three individuals who jumped with Morey were successfully rescued by authorities.
Morey's mother, Angie Morey, expressed her anguish and desperate hope for her son's safe return before his body was located. "I’m hurt and I need some help, and so we’re not there and I can’t get there," she told NBC News, expressing frustration over being unable to reach the river due to the floodwaters. "And my hope is that he’s still alive."
A graduate of Delta High School, Morey had planned to attend Purdue University in the fall. His death marks one of at least six fatalities attributed to the recent severe flooding that has impacted Indiana. Other reported deaths include a four-year-old boy killed when a tree fell on his home and a woman who was swept away after driving into floodwaters.
Flooding has caused significant damage, with more than a dozen counties declaring disaster emergencies. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) stated that President Trump approved an emergency declaration for Indiana, making federal disaster assistance available to affected areas. Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett characterized the flooding as the most severe the city has experienced in over three decades, leading to the evacuation of hundreds of homes.
