Crews pause search Wednesday night for missing teen in Jordan Lake, officials say

For updates on the search for Roberto Deleto, who went missing on Jordan Lake, see this story.

Almost 24 hours after a 15-year-old boy went missing on Jordan Lake, search crews are pausing their search for the teen.

The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office and several other agencies will continue their search Thursday morning, according to an update at 7 p.m. They have been looking for the boy since his personal watercraft started having mechanical problems Tuesday and he went missing about 8 p.m.

Searchers have been looking in the water and along the shoreline near the Farrington Point Boat Ramp on Farrington Point Road.

The pastor of the teen’s family identified the boy as Roberto Enrique Deleto, according to ABC11, the News & Observer’s newsgathering partner.

Deleto, who also goes by Rob or Robert, was out on the water with a friend, ABC11 reports, but when he started having mechanical problems, the friend went to get help. Deleto was missing when the friend returned, ABC11 reports.

Rescue crews found his watercraft.

The Sheriff’s Office is being assisted by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, N.C. Highway Patrol, North Chatham Fire Department, Moncure Fire Department and FirstHealth EMS.

“This is a difficult time for the family, especially not knowing what happened,” Sheriff Mike Roberson said in a statement. “ We have multiple resources working on this, and we’re doing everything we can to locate the missing teenager and provide his family with answers.”

The teenager’s name has not been officially released.

This story was originally published March 8, 2023 at 10:04 AM with the headline "Crews pause search Wednesday night for missing teen in Jordan Lake, officials say."