Police release new information on Farmington boy's death

FARMINGTON — A Farmington police spokeswoman confirmed Thursday the 15-year-old Farmington boy whose body was found Aug. 13 after a four-day search had wounds consistent with a fall from a cliff.

Spokeswoman Georgette Allen said Nephi Seavey, a Piedra Vista High School student reported missing Aug. 10, was found dead at the bottom of a 37-foot cliff near a dirt road south of Piñon Hills Golf Course.

Allen said the boy had suffered a broken hip and a minor brain bleed before his death and was severely dehydrated.

A medical investigator confirmed the wounds could have come from falling off the cliff, Allen said, but a cause of death has not been determined by the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator in Albuquerque.

The new information came to light after the boy's father, Brian Seavey, posted a message Wednesday about his son's death on his public Facebook page. He spoke to The Daily Times by telephone Thursday.

Brian Seavey confirmed his son left home at 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 10 after an argument about school, but did not appear overly upset or angry when he left.

Nephi Seavey was scheduled to work at 4 p.m. at the Farmington Aquatic Center, but did not show up for his shift, according to the father.

He said his son's MP3 player and wallet were missing from his room, but were not found on his body. No footprints were found near the body.

Brian Seavey said he could not explain why his son's body was found where it was. Though the area is close to the family house, it is not an area he had gone to before with his siblings.

"His siblings are one year older, one year younger," Brian Seavey said. "The things he does are always with them. He was 15. He was a lifeguard at the pool, and he did the dance academy right next to the pool. Those were his life. He rarely left the house except for those activities and church activities."

Brian Seavey said he and his family were handling the loss of Nephi Seavy.

"We are getting a lot of support and prayers and concern and love," he said.

Allen said the investigation into Nephi Seavey's death continues, and she reiterated that police are asking for anyone with additional information about the boy's death to contact the police department's detectives division at 505-599-1005.

Steve Garrison covers crime and courts for The Daily Times. He can be reached at 505-564-4644 and stgarrison@daily-times.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveGarrisonDT on Twitter.