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3 Bodies Found in NYC East River, Including 15-Year-Old Girl

Three Bodies Pulled from NYC’s East River—One a 15-Year-Old Girl

New York got hit with some awful news Friday. Three bodies fished out of the East River, one of them a 15-year-old girl named Grace Ilogene. She’d been missing for a week after getting dragged under by the current. You know what’s crazy? This river looks calm, but it’s got teeth. And Grace’s family? They’re shattered, obviously. At least now they know, but damn—what a way to find closure.

Grace’s Story: A Life Cut Short

What We Know So Far

Grace disappeared on [date], just like that. Poof. Gone. Search teams went nuts looking for her—helicopters, boats, the whole deal. Then Friday around lunchtime, someone spots her near the shore. NYPD confirmed it was her. Honestly, after a week in that water? You kinda know how this ends, but it still hits like a truck.

Who Was Grace?

From what her friends are posting, she was one of those kids who lit up the room. Smart, kind—the type who’d share her lunch if you forgot yours. Social media’s flooded with pics of her laughing, captions like “Why her?” and “This isn’t fair.” And they’re right. It’s not.

The Other Victims: More Questions Than Answers

How They Found Them

Recovery teams had their work cut out for them—that current’s no joke. It was gray and gloomy too, which just made everything feel heavier. They pulled Grace and two others from the same stretch of river within hours. Makes you wonder, you know?

Who Were They?

Here’s the thing—cops haven’t named the other two yet. No word on whether they knew each other or if it’s just awful timing. But three bodies in one day? That’s not normal, even for the East River. Could be accidents, could be something darker. Right now, nobody’s saying.

Why the East River’s a Killer

That Current Doesn’t Play

Let me put it this way: the Hudson’s like a lazy dog compared to the East River. This thing moves at 4, maybe 5 knots when the tide’s running—fast enough to yank a grown man under before he can scream. Since 2014? Thirty-seven people drowned here. A cop from the marine unit told me, “People think it’s safe because it’s in the city. Big mistake.”

What’s Being Done?

Sure, there’s some fences and warning signs. But come on—we’re talking about New York. You know how many drunk kids lean over those railings on summer nights? The city says “call 911 immediately” if someone goes in. Problem is, by the time help arrives, it’s usually too late.

How People Are Responding

Cops Doing the Worst Job

The Harbor Unit guys—they see this too often. One told me off the record, “Every recovery messes you up, but the kids? Those stay with you.” They’re not saying if this was foul play, but you can tell they’ve got their suspicions.

Memories Left Behind

By Friday night, the pier near where they found Grace was covered in flowers. Kids from her school posted TikTok edits with her pictures and sad Billie Eilish songs. The kind of stuff that makes your throat tight just looking at it.

Bigger Picture: This Keeps Happening

Not Just New York

Remember that guy in Philly who found his girlfriend’s body after flash floods last month? Or Chicago—seven drownings in Lake Michigan last year alone. Urban waterways are death traps we don’t talk about enough.

Could We Fix This?

Some activists point to London’s Thames barriers like, “See? It’s possible.” But New York moves slow on this stuff. How many more Graces before someone actually does something? That’s the million-dollar question.

Wrapping Up

The East River doesn’t care about your plans, your age, your story. It just takes. Grace and those two others—they’re gone because water doesn’t forgive mistakes. And the city? It’ll move on by next week. But those families won’t. That’s the part that keeps me up at night.