Los Angeles, United States - December 17, 2024 12/17/2024 08:43 am (GMT-0800) PHELAN, Calif. – On Tuesday, December 17th at approximately 8:43 a.m., rescue personnel with the San Bernardino County Fire Department were dispatched to a water rescue located in the Governor Edmund G Brown East Branch California Aqueduct, on Caughlin Road just south of Olivine Road in the City of Phelan. Rescue crews located one person in the aqueduct, deceased, and turned the water rescue into a body recovery operation. Officers with the California Highway Patrol are handling the investigation. At this time, the cause of death is not clear, and it is unknown if foul play is suspected. UPDATE: The person recovered from the aqueduct has been identified as missing 19-year-old Jose Cardona Jr. Cardona has been missing for approximately three weeks, last seen on November 24th. Surveillance footage from that day captured Cardona at approximately 1:27 p.m., just prior to setting out on what was believed to be a walk near the aqueduct, located not far from his home. Cardona was discovered deceased Tuesday morning. Cardona, a cancer survivor, had been facing mental health challenges, which heightened his family's concerns for his well-being, as mentioned in a social media post. On Tuesday morning, while continuing the search, Cardona's father made the discovery of his son's body in the aqueduct. The family had been searching daily for the weeks prior. Rescue personnel with the San Bernardino County Fire Department utilized ropes to secure and retrieve Cardona's body. He was pronounced deceased at the scene, with family members, including his parents, present.