Family remembers 19-year-old drowning victim found Monday in Kansas City creek
The body of a teenager swept away Sunday evening in a Kansas City creek has been found, officials said Tuesday.
Trevion Mcafee, 19, was last seen alive Sunday night just north of the 103rd Street bridge as he slipped beneath the surface of Indian Creek.
Police were called about 7:30 p.m. Sunday to assist with a possible drowning victim swept away by the current, said Officer Doaa El-Ashkar, a spokeswoman for the Kansas City Police Department.
Mcafee’s body was found about 3:45 p.m. Monday, close to the spot where he went missing, Assistant Fire Chief Jimmy Walker of the Kansas City Fire Department said Tuesday morning.
When Mcafee was frustrated, scared or just trying to figure things out, he liked to put his feet into the water at Indian Creek, his loved ones said.
The Metropolitan Community College sophomore and Center High School graduate was fun-loving and could hold a two-hour long conversation with anyone, family said.
“He definitely was not shy, not afraid to put himself out there,” said his sister Taniesha Ngugi. “He went through a lot of obstacles, but he definitely beat the odds for what he went through. Very intelligent, very smart. IT was his thing, but he loved the arts.”
Mcafee’s family gathered at the water’s edge Sunday evening and returned Monday, watching as divers searched the waters for the young man.
Marquita Mcafee, his cousin, said he used to send her photos of himself relaxing by the creek’s shore. Jairus Poole, his boyfriend of more than a year-and-a-half, recalled the first time Mcafee brought him to the creek to just sit.
Initial reports said Mcafee was swimming with a group of teenagers, but his family said they don’t know if he would have joined in the swimming.
Because he can’t swim, Ngugi said she doesn’t believe Mcafee would have intentionally put himself in harm’s way.
Someone who was with Mcafee on Sunday night told police they tried to help him, but could not get to him, El-Ashkar said.
On Sunday night, Mcafee’s family watched as a couple individuals who are homeless swam the river with the divers, helping to look for any sign of Mcafee. One of them told Mcafee’s family that they often see young people playing in the creek and warn them to stay in the shallow end, away from the current. They didn’t see what happened to Mcafee.
Hours before Mcafee was found, Ngugi expressed her gratitude for the search and rescue team working tirelessly to find her brother, whom she said loved theater, singing and dancing and can hold a conversation about anything.
She said at the time that while their family was supporting one another and trying to keep a positive mindset, they knew they also have to be prepared for the worst.
“You never know when it’s going to be your time to go,” Poole added. “You never know when your loved one is going to have to go, so just make sure you there for everybody.”
The Star’s Katie Moore contributed.
This story was originally published July 28, 2020 at 8:52 AM.
