The body of U.S. Army Spc. Mariyah Symone Collington, a 19-year-old from Tavares, Florida, was found in a coastal cave in Morocco on May 12, 2026. She went missing alongside 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. on May 2 during off-duty time near the Cap Draa Training Area.
Collington and Key were part of a group hiking to watch the sunset when one fell into the ocean; the other jumped in to help but was swept away by a wave. Rescues by fellow soldiers failed due to rough conditions. The pair participated in African Lion 2026, a major U.S.-Morocco-NATO exercise, but vanished off-duty.
Search and Recovery Efforts
Over 1,000 U.S. and Moroccan personnel searched more than 8,200 square miles using drones, helicopters, boats, divers, and ground teams. Key’s body was recovered May 9 from the shoreline about a mile from the site.ô€³¦ô€³¦ Collington’s remains, located 500 meters away in a hard-to-access cave amid challenging terrain and waves, were transported to Moulay El Hassan Military Hospital in Guelmim.
Spc. Collington joined the Army’s Delayed Entry Program in 2023, started active duty in 2024, trained at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and served in Ansbach, Germany, with Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment. Promoted to specialist on May 1, she earned praise for her enthusiasm and humor from Capt. Spencer Grider.Brig. Gen. Curtis King called her loss profound for the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command.
Next Steps and Tributes
Both bodies are being repatriated to the U.S. by the Air Force. U.S. Africa Command praised Moroccan partners for their commitment. The incident is under investigation, with next of kin notified.
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