Search underway near Ohio River for 16-year-old kayaker who went missing Sunday

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Police in Louisville and southern Indiana are searching for a teen who has been missing since Sunday.

That morning, 16-year-old Jacob Stover left his home on Ridgemoor Court in Prospect, according to Louisville Metro Police. Stover's family said he planned to go kayaking at Cox Park alone but never returned home.

"He goes fishing almost every day, and we just assumed he went to the pond that he always goes to," said Melissa Stover, Jacob's mother. "And didn't know until 10:00 a.m. or a little after, that he had gone and put his boat in at Cox Park on the river."

Melissa Stover said Jacob left the house early Sunday morning. His parents then pinged his cellphone to determine Jacob's exact location. That's when the Stovers realized Jacob was on the Ohio River. "His dad contacted him and told him to get back, but he didn't realize how far down he was when he told him."

Louisville Metro Police and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officers have been helping in the search since Sunday afternoon. LMPD's helicopter was in the air and search crews were on the water, looking for any signs of Jacob.

WDRB News was with Melissa Stover when she received one of several updates from Metro Police Detectives. "They just found his boat; I just want to find my boy," said Stover.

Meanwhile, Stover said, Jacob's phone stopped responding just before 11 a.m., when he was on the Indiana side of the river just east of the Falls of the Ohio

Family members spent Monday searching the Ohio River from both sides and asked the public to help look for Jacob, if they can.

"If anybody saw him on Sunday, when they were out walking the river, so that we can get a better idea of where he was and when, that would be helpful," said Stover.

Dylan MacLean is Jacob's cousin and one of several family members who spent Monday searching for their loved one. "At this point, we are just kind of asking for anyone, who might have seen a boy matching his description. We shared pictures with you guys, please let the authorities know," said MacLean.

The 16-year-old was last seen wearing a black winter coat, black winter pants, blue beanie and black boots. Jacob is described as 5'9" tall and 140 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair.