The family of 17-year-old Ali Shegow confirmed that the remains found in a creek in the Gahanna area last week are his.

Shegow was first reported missing on February 21. He was last seen in Academy Park in Gahanna, walking near Big Walnut Creek.

Police said hundreds of officers from Columbus, Gahanna, and New Albany police departments as well as Franklin County Sheriff's deputies and fire personnel helped in the search.

Gahanna police reported on May 14 that a body was recovered from a heavy brush in the Big Walnut Creek behind the Creekside District.

On Sunday, the family confirmed that the body was that of Ali.

They said his body was found about a mile from where he was last seen.

"I had not noticed anything until a guest said something to me about an odor," said Brandon Ferguson.

Ferguson is the general manager of Barrel & Board. He said guests and employees noticed a foul smell out on the patio near the creek.

"Actually I had two servers approach me, and they came right up to me and said listen there's a bad odor outside and everyone had their assumptions about what it could be, I was telling everyone to be optimistic, unfortunately they were right," Ferguson said.

They called police and the body was taken to the Franklin County Corner's Office for identification and possible cause of death.

Ali's family said he was laid to rest on May 19th.