Partygoer vanishes after getting in Lyft that was canceled minutes later, MA cops say

UPDATE: Dickson “Joel” De Los Reyes was found dead in marshes after 8:30 p.m. on June 16 near Route 107 in Revere, Massachusetts, according to an update from state police.

Before the discovery of his body, a Lyft spokesperson confirmed the company was helping police in their investigation in a statement to McClatchy News on June 16.

“Our thoughts are with Mr. De Los Reyes’ family and loved ones during this difficult time,” the spokesperson said.

The original story continues below.

A 24-year-old is missing after leaving a party in a Lyft rideshare vehicle that was canceled minutes later in Massachusetts, according to state police.

Dickson “Joel” De Los Reyes’s phone called 911 the same time the ride was terminated at about 3:56 a.m. on June 11 in Chelsea, state police said in a June 16 news release.

He stepped into the vehicle minutes earlier at 3:42 a.m. when he was picked up by the Lyft driver in the city, according to authorities. It’s unclear if he or the driver ended the ride.

Now a search is underway for De Los Reyes, Massachusetts state police said. McClatchy News reached out to Lyft for a comment June 16 and is awaiting a response.

After his phone initially dialed 911, a Revere Police Department dispatcher picked up before the call got disconnected, according to the release. Police said the call came in near the American Legion Highway in Revere.

Authorities were unable to call him back and believe his phone is off after unsuccessfully trying to locate the device, authorities said.

De Los Reyes, who is described as Hispanic, 5 feet, 3 inches tall, weighing 150 pounds with black hair and brown eyes, was last seen wearing black pants, a black vest over a white long-sleeve shirt and white sneakers, according to Chelsea surveillance camera footage, police said.

Anyone who may know where De Los Reyes is or has information relevant to his disappearance should contact Trooper Timothy Burns at 617-727-8817.

Details regarding the Lyft driver wasn’t specified by police.

Chelsea is about 5 miles northeast of Boston.

This story was originally published June 16, 2023 at 4:36 PM.

Julia Marnin

McClatchy DC

Julia Marnin covers courts for McClatchy News, writing about criminal and civil affairs, including cases involving policing, corrections, civil liberties, fraud, and abuses of power. As a reporter on McClatchy’s National Real-Time Team, she’s also covered the COVID-19 pandemic and a variety of other topics since joining in 2021, following a fellowship with Newsweek. Born in Biloxi, Mississippi, she was raised in South Jersey and is now based in New York State.