WASHINGTON — A community and family are waiting for answers with heavy hearts as they continue to mourn a 17-year-old who they knew as a standout athlete with dreams of playing professional baseball.
Ceph Christie, from Northeast, D.C. was found dead in the Potomac around 5:15 a.m. after witnesses say they saw him splashing and called for help, but he couldn't be saved.
How he died still remains a mystery to those who cared for him so deeply.
"It's just a void now. It's this a huge void. Because he was part of my every day," his father, Marlon Christie said. The man called his son his best friend.
"It's not a day where we're in a house where he's not running up on me trying to give me 12 and 20 hugs and kisses . . . so I won't get those anymore."
Marlon Christie believed so much in his son Ceph's talent he started a club team to coach him, built a home gym to help him train and scheduled service projects to teach him more than baseball.
"It was no doubt once he figured it all out together; he was going to be playing on TV. He's going to be a pro athlete, no doubt. . . . I saw a leader that was humble."
His father said now, he's spending time praying that no one did anything to end his son's life and that it was just an accident.
The family says police tell them this investigation is ongoing and they are looking for any security cameras that might give them some clues.
A memorial service will be held for Christie on Saturday, Aug. 20th at the Greater People's Union Baptist Church located on 3601 Southern Avenue, Suitland, Maryland. The viewing will start from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. following the service.