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Family Confirms Body Found In Golf Course Pond Is Missing AIG VP

omar_meza.jpg
Omar and Diane Meza (Photo via the Find Omar Meza Facebook page)

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The family of missing AIG executive Omar Meza has confirmed that it was his body investigators found in a pond at the JW Marriott Desert Springs yesterday.Police pulled Meza's body out of a man-made pond near the 18th hole of a golf course on the grounds of the JW Marriott Desert Springs Hotel in Palm Desert yesterday at around 2:15 p.m., USA Today reports.

The coroner's office has not confirmed it was Meza, but on the Facebook page Find Omar Meza, which has been posting updates since Meza's disappearance last week, the family issued the following statement:

"We are with heavy hearts tonight as we announce the passing of Omar Meza. He was a very loved son, husband, brother & friend. We would like to take this time to grieve his passing and ask that everyone please respect our privacy at this time. We would like to thank all of the supporters this past week. It brings tears to our eyes to see how well loved Omar was, he will be missed by many."

The discovery came after nearly a week of searching the grounds of the JW. Volunteers had expanded their search to nearby Thousand Palms yesterday after investigators announced they had already searched the grounds and the lakes. Meza's brother, Sven Meza, said he was confident that his brother's body was not at the JW just hours before the discovery.

Meza went missing last Thursday during a business trip after having dinner with coworkers in nearby Indian Wells. Meza called his wife, Diane Meza, around 11 p.m. to tell her he was returning to his hotel room at the Courtyard Marriott—about a mile and a half from the JW—and would call her then. Meza's coworkers said they then saw him leave the restaurant in an Uber.

Meza never made it to the Courtyard Marriott, however. Security cameras show him entering the lobby of the JW Marriott, then different cameras pick him up walking outside the hotel near a parking lot. Investigators later found his jacket and wallet on the resort's golf course. Meza was reported missing Friday morning after missing his meetings.

Diane Meza told reporters earlier that they had gotten in a car crash in March that left Meza with some memory loss. She was concerned he may have gotten disoriented. She also said she feared the Uber driver may have mistakenly dropped Meza off at the JW, not the Courtyard, which would explain why he entered the lobby and then was later seen outside.

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