A body recovered from the Mississippi River near Festus, MO on February 16, 2026 has been identified as the body of a missing 18-year-old from St. Louis City.
On February 16, 2026, barge workers on the Mississippi River discovered the body near River Cement Road, just south of Festus. Missouri State Highway Patrol officials responded and recovered the body before it was transported to the St. Louis County Medical Examiner’s Office for identification and autopsy purposes.
On February 18, 2026, the Medical Examiner’s Office identified the body as 18-year-old Wuaniata Gibson. Gibson was reported missing from St. Louis City on December 24, 2025 after she was last seen leaving the 8800 block of Portland Terrace on December 22, 2025..
An investigation into the official cause of death remains underway.
