The body of 18 year old Donaven Dempsey has been positively identified as the person found deceased in the Congaree River Sunday afternoon, according to the Richland County Coroner’s Office.
The Columbia Police Department say that no foul play is suspected in his death, though the case remains under investigation.
Dempsey was last seen in Columbia, South Carolina on May 8, 2025. He disappeared after returning to Columbia from his hometown of Spartanburg.
The Disappearance of Donaven Dempsey
On May 8, 2025, Donaven Dempsey, a student at University of South Carolina, left his hometown of Spartanburg to return to school in Columbia, South Carolina. Since then Donaven has had no contact with loved ones.
Investigation
According to Donaven’s father, the last time he spoke with his son he was in an Uber headed to his girlfriend’s house in Spartanburg. When his father spoke to the girlfriend an hour later she said he wasn’t with her and was unable to track his phone anymore, as Donaven had turned off his phone and was not receiving calls anymore.
According to Donaven’s Uber account, Donaven got a ride back to Columbia rather than going to his girlfriend’s house. The account shows he was dropped off at Columbia hall dorm on the USC Columbia campus at 6:16 pm on May 8, 2025.
The last known transaction is when his debit card was used at the McDonald’s on Gervais Street.
On May 23, 2025, police released new information, stating that he was last seen on March 8 walking on Hampton Street toward West Columbia.
Donaven lost his mother two years ago, and may be struggling with the loss, especially with the anniversary being near Mother’s Day.
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