Found Deceased CA - Antoine Whittley, 17, exited rideshare on Richmond/San Rafael bridge after dispute, 10 Feb 2021

[LadyL]

As was feared here on this thread, Antoine and his friend had taken hallucinogenic drugs before the rideshare.

“Antoine stated that he was on the bridge and said, told KJ, that they were trying to kidnap me, and I am walking on the bridge now. He also told KJ, I may have to jump off. Those were the last words that KJ heard from Antoine, the phone disconnected," Sgt. Pomeroy.”

What a tragedy. He’s not been found, but it’s thought he may have jumped, from what he stated, plus his state of mind.

Richmond police ask for help in search for missing teen Antoine Whittley

oh god
not hopeful

 

[YaYa_521]

As was feared here on this thread, Antoine and his friend had taken hallucinogenic drugs before the rideshare.

“Antoine stated that he was on the bridge and said, told KJ, that they were trying to kidnap me, and I am walking on the bridge now. He also told KJ, I may have to jump off. Those were the last words that KJ heard from Antoine, the phone disconnected," Sgt. Pomeroy.”

What a tragedy. He’s not been found, but it’s thought he may have jumped, from what he stated, plus his state of mind.

Richmond police ask for help in search for missing teen Antoine Whittley

Ty for the update, @slowpoke
Snipped

"While he was driving on Interstate 580, he became concerned about Antoine's behavior in the backseat of his car and he got to the point where he was actually watching him in the rearview mirror and missed the Point Richmond exit. This caused the rideshare driver to end up going onto the Richmond San Rafael Bridge," Sgt. Aaron Pomeroy said.

"While on the bridge, Antoine accused the driver of kidnapping him, and physically attacked the driver while on the bridge. He asked the driver to stop his car, which the driver initially refused and said let me take you to the other side of the bridge, but due to the assault that was occurring at the time, the driver made the decision to stop the car, midspan. Antoine physically climbed over the driver and exited out the driver's door of the vehicle," Sgt. Pomeroy said.

 

[cvaldez1975]

Just posting this here it may be here already

Missing East Bay teen likely jumped or fell from bridge, police say – East Bay Times

 

[cvaldez1975]

As was feared here on this thread, Antoine and his friend had taken hallucinogenic drugs before the rideshare.

“Antoine stated that he was on the bridge and said, told KJ, that they were trying to kidnap me, and I am walking on the bridge now. He also told KJ, I may have to jump off. Those were the last words that KJ heard from Antoine, the phone disconnected," Sgt. Pomeroy.”

What a tragedy. He’s not been found, but it’s thought he may have jumped, from what he stated, plus his state of mind.

Richmond police ask for help in search for missing teen Antoine Whittley

Omg my heart is broken. This could happen to any kid experimenting. He had to have jumped I’m praying not. I suspected this. My now young adult son experimented with wax as a teen and he got real bizarre

 

[SimplyCass]

When his phone went dead suddenly maybe the battery died (bad timing) or it could have been thrown into the water by someone in the car that he thought was following him.

I'm not sure how (maybe someone here can explain), but there's a difference when the phone is intentionally turned off and when it runs out of battery, and in other cases, authorities have clarified which one happened.

The part about the driver stopping because AW was attacking is very worrisome. Hope there are some answers soon.

 

[whitelilac]

I've been following. It is so very sad to read. Antoine is only 17, a kid, he must have been so frightened in that state.
Heartbreaking,... his poor mom.
I fear his phone disconnected/ stopped functioning in the water. I want to believe he didn't jump, but I'd think he would have eventually come down from the drugs' effects, and be found by now.

 

[Filly]

Omg my heart is broken. This could happen to any kid experimenting. He had to have jumped I’m praying not. I suspected this. My now young adult son experimented with wax as a teen and he got real bizarre

Exactly. Any kid. Antoine is an athlete, and maybe even his first time.

Poor kid. It's been so long now, but there's always hope.

 

[oceanstarryeyes]

Where did he get the drugs?Was it from an adult? Maybe it was a bad drug.

 

[slowpoke]

Police Seek Help Locating Missing Richmond Teen

“CHP officials said they don't believe Whittley walked off the bridge because they reviewed the bridge's camera footage. Authorities said that could mean that the teen either went into the water or got into another car.”

I think if he was paranoid, the likelihood of getting into another car seems slim, doesn’t it...

I wonder what the car traffic was like on the bridge at that time? How did the driver manage to let him out of the car in the middle of the bridge without peril to the car or Antoine? Surely, others must have witnessed the incident of him exiting the car, unless there were no other cars around that time of night. Or pedestrians and/or cyclists.

Poor Antoine. And his family. How terrible his friend must feel, too.

 

[10ofRods]

Police Seek Help Locating Missing Richmond Teen

“CHP officials said they don't believe Whittley walked off the bridge because they reviewed the bridge's camera footage. Authorities said that could mean that the teen either went into the water or got into another car.”

I think if he was paranoid, the likelihood of getting into another car seems slim, doesn’t it...

I wonder what the car traffic was like on the bridge at that time? How did the driver manage to let him out of the car in the middle of the bridge without peril to the car or Antoine? Surely, others must have witnessed the incident of him exiting the car, unless there were no other cars around that time of night. Or pedestrians and/or cyclists.

Poor Antoine. And his family. How terrible his friend must feel, too.

Pretty sure there was peril - but the driver's assessment was that his own safety required that he stop. Antoine literally climbed over him to exit (which is bizarre unless the driver stopped in the fast lane - which is possible on that bridge. Inbound traffic (toward SF) would likely have been light.

At any rate, there was peril, and the driver clearly was afraid for both his/her own safety and Antoine's safety. Once a person misses that last turn into Richmond Point, then...I don't think there's an easy to way to turn around and head back. The driver must have been overwhelmed at that point (trying to watch Antoine) and Antoine knew the driver was heading across the bay - very scary, would feel like a "kidnapping" to anyone who was even vaguely paranoid.

Very sad story.

 

[cvaldez1975]

Pretty sure there was peril - but the driver's assessment was that his own safety required that he stop. Antoine literally climbed over him to exit (which is bizarre unless the driver stopped in the fast lane - which is possible on that bridge. Inbound traffic (toward SF) would likely have been light.

At any rate, there was peril, and the driver clearly was afraid for both his/her own safety and Antoine's safety. Once a person misses that last turn into Richmond Point, then...I don't think there's an easy to way to turn around and head back. The driver must have been overwhelmed at that point (trying to watch Antoine) and Antoine knew the driver was heading across the bay - very scary, would feel like a "kidnapping" to anyone who was even vaguely paranoid.

Very sad story.

It’s a double deck bridge, the San Rafael bound side is on top. There is no way to turn around until across the bridge near San Quentin. I agree, if he was already paranoid he must have thought it was sus that he was being driven onto the bridge

 

[SimplyCass]

So from my quick check of Google Street View...I'm confused. Going westbound there's only two lanes and then a kind of pedestrian area on the right side? How/why would AW climb over the driver and exit out either on the fast lane or onto nowhere?

i don't know offhand but rideshare apps usually require a four-door car? And with Covid shouldn't the passengers be the back seat? (Unless there are three riders.) But AW was by himself and seated in the front?

ETA: screenshot of Street View. There is literally no place to walk out in if the car was in the fast lane. But if the car was in the slow lane IDK why he would have climbed over the driver.

 

[musicaljoke]

So from my quick check of Google Street View...I'm confused. Going westbound there's only two lanes and then a kind of pedestrian area on the right side? How/why would AW climb over the driver and exit out either on the fast lane or onto nowhere?

i don't know offhand but rideshare apps usually require a four-door car? And with Covid shouldn't the passengers be the back seat? (Unless there are three riders.) But AW was by himself and seated in the front?

ETA: screenshot of Street View. There is literally no place to walk out in if the car was in the fast lane. But if the car was in the slow lane IDK why he would have climbed over the driver.

If he was in a paranoid state, then there might be no logical reason known to us why he climbed over the driver to exit the driver's door. The passenger door was not an option for reasons known only to himself.

 

[10ofRods]

None of what happened is rational or logical, except that Antoine knew enough to call a rideshare and not try to walk home.

This is such a sad case.

 

[slowpoke]

None of what happened is rational or logical, except that Antoine knew enough to call a rideshare and not try to walk home.

This is such a sad case.

Although this article says his friend is the one who arranged the rideshare: (bolded and underlined by me)

“His friend got him a ride home in a rideshare car and the driver missed the Point Richmond exit and got on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, police said.”
Police disclose new details on missing Richmond teen

I think other reports do say Antoine arranged the rideshare. So, it’s uncertain who did.

 

[ryanmarieee]

I really hate that this is looking like he jumped. If he was hallucinating there is no "Logic" into what he would have been thinking so it is hard for non-altered minds to understand what was going on with him.

So if he jumped, why isn't there anyone checking the water? I'm not familiar with the area so would they even be able to find him in the water if he jumped?

Also, wouldn't surveillance given an idea about how many cars/pedestrians or bikes crossed through at that time of night?

It honestly looks like such a tight bridge that he could have simply been forced off by speeding cars if he was on the fast lane side as there is no room for a pedestrian to be walking. Someone else crossing that bridge had to have seen him if anyone did cross.

 

[jash]

Although this article says his friend is the one who arranged the rideshare: (bolded and underlined by me)

“His friend got him a ride home in a rideshare car and the driver missed the Point Richmond exit and got on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, police said.”
Police disclose new details on missing Richmond teen

I think other reports do say Antoine arranged the rideshare. So, it’s uncertain who did.

It must have been his friend who booked the ride as the friend received notification of the cancellation.

"The driver finished going across the bridge, then reported the canceled fare when he arrived there at 8:34, police said. That cancellation alerted K.J., Antoine’s friend. "
Missing East Bay teen likely jumped or fell from bridge, police say – East Bay Times

 

[slowpoke]

Antoine Whittley’s Family Keeps Up Search for Him and Closure | Richmond Pulse

“K.J. told police that he and Whittley ingested marijuana edibles and “possibly include” hallucinogens, Richmond police Sgt. Aaron Pomeroy said. After hanging out with friends, Whittley told K.J. he was not feeling well and wanted to go home.”
* * * * * *

The following is not about Antoine, but it could be very similar circumstances: There was a case in CO from 2014 where a young man ate an entire cookie edible. It had been recommended to consume only 1/6 of the cookie at a time. He became psychotic, and died jumping off a 4th floor balcony.

This article also says:
“Right off the bat 15 percent of people can have a psychotic reaction and someone who has never used before is at an even greater risk,” said addiction expert Dr. Christian Thurstone.“

College Student Ate 6 Times Recommended Amount Of Pot Cookie Before Jumping To Death

 

[ryanmarieee]

I was really hoping that they would have gotten some answers from searching the water. I hope we hear something soon.

 

[slowpoke]

Antoine’s father wants the police to not be stuck on the idea that he jumped off the bridge. He wants them to consider what happened to Antoine to be looked at as a “robbery that went bad that turned into a kidnapping”. He also wants “warrants for everybody’s cellphone”, but the police denied him. The family is upset they never came to the house to examine his things.

I’m not sure what to think. But the pain and frustration in their voices is palpable. Very sad. Video at link.
VIDEO: What happened to missing Richmond teen Antoine Whittley? - Richmond Confidential