Body found in Walden Pond in Saugus

SAUGUS — A body, which Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker said has been tentatively identified as that of Brian Lopez, was found in Walden Pond near the town’s border with Lynnfield on Tuesday.

Tucker, speaking at a press conference with Lynn Police Chief Chris Reddy near the Army Barracks shop, said that the identification was based on the clothing and personal accessories found in the vicinity of the body. He added that medical examiners will make a final determination of the body’s identity.

“As you know, Brian had been missing since Friday, and unfortunately, we tentatively identified the body that has been located in a body of water,” Tucker said.

Lopez, a 17-year-old from Lynn who worked for The Food Project in Lynn and Wenham, left his residence at Warren Place on Friday at approximately 10:30 a.m. on foot, according to a statement from the Lynn Police Department on Monday.

Lopez was last seen Friday morning on video-surveillance footage walking on Myrtle Street toward Walnut Street. His cell phone was also found on Gardiner Street on Friday, according to the statement.

Reddy said that the body was discovered by a group of men who saw the body when they went to go fishing at Walden Pond.

Tucker said that Lopez’s family had been informed before the press conference.

Reddy said that over the course of the weekend, the Lynn Police Department initiated a search for Lopez. Based on early indications that Lynn Woods was an area of interest, Reddy said the department partnered with the Lynn Fire Department, the State Police, the Environmental Police, and several community groups for a comprehensive search that included the State Police’s Air Wing and the use of drones, ATVs, bicycles, and dogs.

Tucker said that no foul play is suspected at this time.

In a statement, Lynn Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Evonne S. Alvarez said that the news of Lopez’s death was deeply saddening.

Dr. Alvarez extended condolences to the friends, family, and classmates of Lopez, a rising senior at Lynn Classical High School. Dr. Alvarez said that there will be staff available for those affected to receive grief support from July 31 to Aug. 2, from 8 a.m. through 2:45 p.m.

“Please join us in keeping Brian’s family in our thoughts and prayers as they move forward in the face of this unimaginable tragedy,” Dr. Alvarez said in the statement.

Emma Fringuelli contributed to this report.

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