Spc. Mariyah Collington, a 19-year-old soldier from Central Florida, was found dead in a coastal cave in Morocco after being missing since May 2, the U.S. Army announced Tuesday. Moroccan military and civil personnel assisted in the massive search effort. >>Video below: US Army recovers, identifies 2nd missing soldier in Morocco as woman from Tavares”Certainly, there were upwards (of) 1,000 people, all kinds of equipment,” said Congressman Daniel Webster, R-Lake County, whose district includes Tavares, where Collington was from. Webster described Collington as having “a good, bright outlook on life and a good, bright outlook on her service in the military.” He also expressed hope that the U.S. military would provide answers to Collington’s loved ones about the circumstances of her death, saying, “I’m sure they’ll do an investigation and get some facts that will bring some finality to it.” Before enlisting in the Army, Collington graduated from Evans High School in 2024. An Orange County School Board member shared that she was a two-year varsity cheerleader and participated in the school’s nursing program. “Our hearts go out to you. A lot of people are praying for you,” Webster said when asked for his message to Collington’s family. In a statement, Evans High School principal Kenya Nelson-Warren expressed the community’s grief. “I know I speak for our entire Trojan family when I express the extreme grief we feel at the loss of one of our own,” she said. “Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, and all those she served with during this incredibly painful time.” Collington’s family has requested privacy during this time.

TAVARES, Fla. —

Spc. Mariyah Collington, a 19-year-old soldier from Central Florida, was found dead in a coastal cave in Morocco after being missing since May 2, the U.S. Army announced Tuesday.

Moroccan military and civil personnel assisted in the massive search effort.

>>Video below: US Army recovers, identifies 2nd missing soldier in Morocco as woman from Tavares

“Certainly, there were upwards (of) 1,000 people, all kinds of equipment,” said Congressman Daniel Webster, R-Lake County, whose district includes Tavares, where Collington was from.

Webster described Collington as having “a good, bright outlook on life and a good, bright outlook on her service in the military.” He also expressed hope that the U.S. military would provide answers to Collington’s loved ones about the circumstances of her death, saying, “I’m sure they’ll do an investigation and get some facts that will bring some finality to it.”

Before enlisting in the Army, Collington graduated from Evans High School in 2024. An Orange County School Board member shared that she was a two-year varsity cheerleader and participated in the school’s nursing program.

“Our hearts go out to you. A lot of people are praying for you,” Webster said when asked for his message to Collington’s family.

In a statement, Evans High School principal Kenya Nelson-Warren expressed the community’s grief.

“I know I speak for our entire Trojan family when I express the extreme grief we feel at the loss of one of our own,” she said. “Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, and all those she served with during this incredibly painful time.”

Collington’s family has requested privacy during this time.