PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — The body of a missing 16-year-old was found during a search south of Rockford Friday, police say.

Crews had been out in force west of Wolverine Boulevard between 10 Mile Road and Kroes Street, using drones and dogs to look for Cortez McConer Jr.

The Grand Rapids Police Department said his body was found Friday afternoon “in a secluded and heavily wooded area.”

“This is not the outcome we had hoped for,” Chief Eric Winstrom said in a statement. “On behalf of GRPD, we send our heartfelt condolences to Cortez’s family and friends and the many in our community who will be grieving alongside them.”

An autopsy will be performed and the death will be investigated.

Cortez McConer Sr., the 16-year-old’s father, wrote in a Facebook post that his son’s body was found by a K-9 in a swampy area, where it was not visible. He suggested that his son died not long after he was last seen.

“He got stuck and (his) body was half submerged under water,” the father wrote.

He thanked the community for “all the support and prayers.”

The 16-year-old had been missing since Oct. 26 after he and some friends fled police in the Rockford area.

“They ran into the woods. His friend was actually arrested by the police. And that’s the last time Cortez was seen,” Winstrom told reporters Friday morning from the search command post.

The friends were found shortly afterward, but at first would not say Cortez was with them.

Winstrom said police initially thought the teen may be hiding from police, thinking he was in trouble because he had been an occupant in a stolen car, but emphasized Friday morning that police did not intend to pursue criminal charges and just wanted to find him.