Missing Arlington 19-Year-Old's Body Found by Workers: Police

A 19-year-old man who had been missing for more than two weeks was found dead late Friday, Arlington police say.

Evan Lacey's body was discovered about 11:45 p.m. Friday and identified Saturday afternoon, police said. A city utility crew notified authorities that workers had found a possible body in a wooded area in the 7100 block of Webb Ferrell Road South, where they were trying to fix a water leak.

“It's a little disturbing. I mean, I live right here. I haven’t seen anything. I bring my dog out here every day. He’s not acted strange or anything. It’s a little heartbreaking actually," neighbor Dean Stephenson said.

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's office positively identified Lacey through fingerprint analysis around noon Saturday.

Arlington Police Chief Will Johnson confirmed Evan Lacey's death on Twitter and said the death was being investigated as a homicide.

Police said they thought foul play was involved in Lacey's disappearance and death because of the "suspicious circumstances and evidence" found in his car, which was abandoned in Fort Worth.

“We still believe though that there’s somebody out there that knows something, and we pray they’ll do the right thing and give us a tip," Arlington police Lt. Chris Cook said.

We have sad news to report.

Evan Lacey was found deceased early this morning.

We have taken the lead from @fortworthpd who were assisting us after his car was found in their city. This is now a homicide investigation.

A news release will be issued later today pic.twitter.com/Ae5Lfro5Z0

— Will Johnson (@ArlingtonChief) January 4, 2020

Lacey's family said they last saw him about 7 a.m. on Dec. 17 as he left their Arlington home for work in Grand Prairie.

He was reported missing two days later, and on Dec. 21 his vehicle was found in the 4900 block of South Hughes Avenue in Fort Worth, police said.

The news of his death came hours after Lacey's family held a search for him in Fort Worth.

Volunteers launched a drone, combed through the woods and passed out flyers. Family and friends, many of whom took part in previous searches for Lacey, said they were desperate for closure.

Lacey's aunt, Tailar Lacey, wrote in a Facebook post that it was "with much sorrow and heavy hearts that the Lacey family has learned that God has called His and our angel, Evan, to be with him."

She thanked the community for their support and asked that the family be given time to grieve.

Funeral arrangements have not been made.

A vigil will be held in downtown Fort Worth on Monday at 7 p.m.

Anyone with information may call homicide Detective Coleman at 817-459-5373. Anonymous tips may be made by calling Tarrant County Crime Stoppers at 817-469-8477.

NBC 5's Yona Gavino and Allie Spillyards contributed to this report.