A body was discovered inside a submerged vehicle Saturday during the search for missing 20-year-old Nathaniel “Nate” Hang at Deer Creek Reservoir near Alliance.
The discovery was made June 27 as search teams continued efforts to locate Hang, who has been missing since the early morning hours of June 3.
A volunteer search group, Exploring with the Nug, said in a Facebook post that it and Adam Brown Adventures spent the day scanning the reservoir when they located a submerged vehicle. The group said the vehicle was later confirmed to be Hang’s white GMC pickup truck and that a body was found inside.
The Stark County Coroner’s Office and local law enforcement are now handling the investigation. Officials said formal identification will be made through dental records. As of Saturday evening, authorities had not officially confirmed the identity of the body.
“We always hope for a different outcome,” the volunteer search group wrote. “Our main goal is to bring answers and closure to families searching for their missing loved ones.”
Hang was last seen around 3:16 a.m. June 3 driving a white GMC pickup truck on North Union Avenue in Alliance. Family members and police said he had been struggling with mental health issues and may have been in danger.
Authorities and volunteers spent weeks following numerous leads, including reported sightings in Salem and surrounding communities. Earlier in the search, investigators examined a body of water off Webb Avenue in Alliance after what appeared to be a vehicle was spotted during a drone search, but police later determined no vehicle was present.
Saturday’s search shifted to Deer Creek Reservoir, where crews ultimately located the submerged pickup.
The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities have not yet released the identity of the deceased pending formal identification and notification of family members.
Jordan Miller News will continue to provide updates as additional information is released.
