Police believe body found near Point Pinole is missing Richmond teen

Richmond police say they believe a body found Thursday in the San Pablo Bay near Point Pinole is that of a 17-year-old Richmond boy who went missing in early February.

Based on information obtained in the still active missing person investigation, Sgt. Aaron Pomeroy said Thursday investigators believe the body is Antoine Whittley, a Kennedy High School student and football player who was last seen on Feb. 10.

Police said shortly after the disappearance that Antoine was on his way home from a friend’s house that evening and was picked up by a Lyft driver around 8:30 p.m. According to police at the time, the driver missed an exit and ended up on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, where, for some reason, “Antoine exited the vehicle.”

Police say they used the teen’s cellphone location records to confirm he had been on the bridge that night.

A police statement issued Thursday said detectives “continue to work all leads” and have teamed with the Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office, who have taken possession of the body to conduct a positive identification.

Pomeroy said police have not found any evidence of a crime committed and Antoine’s case is still being investigated as a missing juvenile.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact Det. Orlando Johnson by phone at (510) 965-4911 or by email at [email protected]. People can also leave information on the department’s anonymous tip line at (510) 307-8177.