A train conductor found Kaelan Paton’s body in the Housatonic River Tuesday morning, a week after the 16-year-old Sharon teen went missing.
Paton, a freshman at Housatonic Valley Regional High School, and two friends jumped off a dam into the river's rough waters last Tuesday to celebrate the last day of school.
He was swept away while trying to rescue a friend from the fast moving waters of the rain-swollen river. Emergency crews rescued his two friends.
Over the last week, divers went into the river and crews searched the air and from the riverbank.
There was no sign of him until 7 a.m. when two people called police to report they saw a body floating on the river near the Salisbury/Cornwall line. The location was close to where Paton went into the river.
Emergency crews retrieved Paton’s body Tuesday and the medical examiner will conduct an autopsy.
After Paton went missing, there was an outpouring from friends who created a Facebook group and posted a YouTube video to remind everyone of the young man they lost.
"Just keeping his memory alive, letting him live on in a positive way in their hearts, that will continue his legacy," said Palmer Paton.
