Teen Found Dead In Morris County Pond, Investigators Say

MORRIS TOWNSHIP, NJ — A teenager was found dead in a Morris County pond this weekend, according to officials.

On Saturday, around 6:30 p.m., police were called to Jones Pond in Morris Township on reports of a drowning.

Witnesses saw a man enter the water and struggle to swim, prompting the 911 call, prosecutors said.

After a sweep of the pond, authorities discovered the body of Hillario Manuel Mendez-Vincente, 18, of Morristown, in the water.

A post-mortem exam is being conducted by the Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office, and no foul play is suspected, the prosecutor’s office said.

According to the Morristown Green, Mendez-Vincente entered the Jones Woods with two other individuals. The pair then came running out, shouting, “Call 911,” after Mendez-Vincente disappeared under the water, the report reads.

“It’s just a horrible thing,” Morris Township Mayor Donna Guariglia told the outlet.

This is an ongoing investigation by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and Morris Township Police Department.

The James Pond Preserve is a popular spot for hiking and fishing, though swimming is prohibited.