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COLUMBIA, S.C. (BFMG) — The search for 18-year-old Donaven Dempsey, a University of South Carolina freshman who vanished earlier this month, has ended in tragedy.
Dempsey’s body was recovered from the Congaree River on Sunday, according to the Richland County Coroner’s Office. The Columbia Police Department confirmed Tuesday that no foul play is suspected, though the cause and manner of death have not yet been released.
Dempsey, a theatre major from Spartanburg with a deep passion for the arts, was last seen on May 8 after taking an Uber from his hometown to Columbia. According to his girlfriend, Destiny McCorvey, he was expected to arrive at their dorm by 6:15 p.m. but never showed.
“It was 4:37 p.m. when he took an Uber to our dorm in Columbia, and he was set to arrive there at 6:15 p.m.,” McCorvey said.
Surveillance footage later confirmed Dempsey made purchases at the East Bay Deli in Cayce and at a McDonald’s on Gervais Street—both locations matched with his final CashApp transactions. He was reportedly last seen in the area of Gervais Street, according to an incident report from Columbia police.
McCorvey reported Dempsey missing to authorities on May 9 after hours of no contact. She described the following days as filled with anxiety and unanswered questions, particularly as the couple’s one-year anniversary approached on May 23 according to WACH.
“I started dating Donny a year ago today. We sat down and were like—it’s literally us forever kind of thing,” she told FOX Carolina in an emotional interview. McCorvey later found a note among Dempsey’s belongings that suggested his disappearance may have been intentional. “I found a note saying all of this was intentional,” she said.
His father and aunt spoke with ABC Columbia after his disappearance and said Donovan may be struggling with the 2 year anniversary of his mother’s death, especially around Mother’s Day.
Despite the discovery, McCorvey had continued to hold out hope, saying she believed Dempsey would have contacted her if he were safe—especially on the anniversary of their relationship.
At the time of his disappearance, Dempsey was wearing a white T-shirt, a black sweater with a neon green interior, and blue jeans. He was widely known as a kind, spirited young man with a bright future and a love for performance and creativity.
The University of South Carolina released a statement following the news of his death: “We continue to hope for the best and our thoughts and prayers are with Donaven’s friends and family during this difficult time.”
Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford said the investigation remains ongoing. “We will continue working with the Columbia Police Department, the Columbia Fire Department, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to fully investigate this incident,” she said.
The family has setup a GoFundMe to assist in his case with expenses.
Anyone with additional information is urged to contact the Columbia Police Department.
