The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office has ruled the death of Connor Bartlett, a Fort Walton Beach High School freshman, an apparent suicide.

UPDATE 11:45 a.m. Wednesday

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office has issued a news release reporting the death of 14-year-old Connor Bartlett on Tuesday night an apparent suicide.

OCSO noted in the release that an autopsy will be conducted in connection with the death of the Fort Walton Beach High School freshman.

Sheriff's Office investigators have reported there are no initial indications of foul play.

Bartlett's body was found in a beach area west of the Destin jetties by a family friend who was helping search for the missing and endangered juvenile.

The discovery around 6:30 p.m. followed an intense and massive air, ground and water search by multiple agencies after information was developed that the teen, who was possibly armed, was threatening to harm himself and was believed to be in that area.

OCSO also noted its appreciation and the extraordinary amount of concern for the teen and his family expressed by the community, and asks that citizens remain respectful of the family’s privacy and grief during their time of loss.

Original Story

EGLIN AFB — The search for a missing Destin boy ended tragically Tuesday night with the discovery of his body along the beach near the west jetty of the East Pass in Destin, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office.

Connor Bartlett, a Fort Walton Beach High School freshman, was 14.

Authorities had been searching the area for hours.

His bicycle was discovered in the parking lot at the west end of the Marler Bridge, the Sheriff's Office reported.

The initial search, which was launched by OCSO around 1 p.m. Tuesday, focused on areas south of the Marler Bridge, along the west jetties and beyond.



Taking part in the search were Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, OCSO School Resource Officers, K9 Teams, Destin and Okaloosa Island Fire Departments, the Coast Guard, Fish and Wildlife and Eglin Air Force Base. The Walton County Sheriff’s Office and FWC provided helicopters to scan the area from above.

About 30 minutes before his body was found, officials released photos of Connor and asked for the public's help to find him. He was discovered at 6:30 p.m.

A death investigation is underway. Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Michele Nicholson said no foul play is suspected at this time.