CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) — Saadia Rivera was at work Monday when her former boyfriend’s sister told her the unimaginable.

The body of Dante Williams, who had been reported missing nearly a month ago, was found floating in the Pawtuxet River near the Mill Street railroad bridge.

“I was in shock and all I could do was tell her that I’m here for them,” Rivera recalled through tears.

Rivera told 12 News that she has remained close with Williams and his family even after their breakup. She said Williams was supposed to meet up with her after hanging out with his friends last month, but never made it.

“We were just joking around, and then I told him I loved him,” she said, recounting their last phone call prior to his disappearance. “If I knew that was going to be the last ‘I love you’ I would’ve made sure we were on the phone longer.”

The 28-year-old Providence man was reported missing on April 15 . Investigators later learned he was involved in a crash the day before on I-95 North in Warwick, but took off running toward the river long before officers arrived.

Williams didn’t have a license at the time of the crash, according to police.

“I knew something was wrong, but I didn’t think we were going to have to bury him,” she said. “I thought were going to get a call saying, ‘Hey, Dante’s OK.’ I’d rather visit him in a jail cell than see his body.”

Rivera described Williams as outgoing and loyal to those he loved.

“He was the life of the party,” Rivera said. “Every time you called him, he was there. No questions asked. He was such a great soul.”

Rivera said Williams, who had been released from prison a month prior to his death, was in the process of trying to turn his life around.

“He told me this was his year,” Rivera said. “He said he was going to come home and get a job and get his life on track. That’s what he was doing.”

“He was living life,” she continued. “I went from seeing his [social media posts] every day to seeing no posts at all. That’s when I knew.”

Rivera feels the worst for his young daughter, who will now have to navigate life without a father.

“It breaks my heart,” Rivera said. “Everybody knew he was the best father in the world. He loved his daughter so much … There’s nothing in this world he wouldn’t do for his daughter.”

No foul play is suspected in Williams’ death. An autopsy conducted by the state medical examiner revealed no signs of injury or trauma, and the cause of his death was undetermined.

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