Family holds vigil after missing man’s body discovered near Mon River

Shelby Rhodes hadn’t been seen since the early morning hours of Feb. 6.

The body of a Monongahela man missing since Feb. 6 was found Saturday near the Monongahela River in Forward Township.

Shelby Rhodes

The Allegheny County Medical Examiner confirmed that Shelby Rhodes, 26, was discovered near the riverbed on Bunola River Road shortly after 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

Rhodes was last seen on the morning of Feb. 6 after leaving from a home near the Mon River in Monongahela.

Authorities had been searching for him for more than a month after family reported him missing and his cellphone was discovered next to a canoe on the riverbank near the city of Monongahela.

Rhodes reportedly walked from a Monongahela bar to meet his roommate that evening and went to a house party. Rhodes left the party at 5 a.m. on foot and was last seen walking toward the back of the house toward the river.

In the weeks following his disappearance, search crews utilized divers, dogs and drones in their efforts to locate him.

At this point, it is still unclear how Rhodes died, and the medical examiner is looking into what caused his death. The investigation remains ongoing.

Rhodes’ family and friends have taken to social media to pay their respects. The family started a GoFundMe page to help with funeral and memorial expenses, and they had raised $2,365 as of press time Sunday.

According to Rhodes’ family, he was more than just a musician and creative, but a light in every room, someone who brought everybody together, uplifted everyone around him and left a lasting impact.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Shelby Rhodes, an incredible soul, artist, and a true member of our family,” the GoFundMe page reads. “Through his music, his energy, and his presence, he created moments and memories that will live on forever. This loss has left us all devastated. We will continue to carry Shelby’s name, his spirit, and his legacy forward in everything we do.”

Family and friends gathered honored him with a vigil Sunday at the Monongahela Aquatorium.

“He’s my baby brother, it’s not supposed to end this way,” his sister, Jessica Rhodes, told WTAE. “I wanted so badly to be right. I wanted so badly for him to come home and see all the love he has behind him.”

“He was so loved. It was so funny. As hard as he tried to. As much as he tried to act like a tough guy. He wore his heart on his sleeve,” Jessica Rhodes said.

The GoFundMe page can be found at https://www.gofundme. com/f/honoring-thelife- of-shelby-rhodes.