An 18-year-old recent graduate from Tioga County was found deceased in the Susquehanna River in New York on May 11, 2026, ending an extensive two-state search effort that engaged emergency personnel and community members throughout New York and Pennsylvania.
Dalton G. Malmstrom, who completed his studies at Owego Free Academy in 2025, was retrieved from the river by the State Police Underwater Recovery Team working with K9 personnel, per New York State Police reports. He went missing on the morning of May 9 after departing his residence in Nichols, New York following a disagreement with family members.
The circumstances surrounding Malmstrom’s death have not been made public by law enforcement.
Community Grieves at School
The Owego Apalachin Central School District has activated its emergency response procedures to assist students and staff members dealing with grief following Malmstrom’s death. Mental health professionals were available throughout the week to help the community process the loss.
“The Malmstrom family has our deepest sympathies during this profoundly difficult period,” school leadership stated, noting that “Dalton was a valued part of the Owego Apalachin Central School District, with multiple family members and friends still attending Owego Free Academy.”
School administrators stressed that offering psychological assistance and resources to help students “work through difficult emotions” is their primary focus.
Multi-State Search Operations Over Two Days
Following Malmstrom’s May 9 disappearance, the search quickly expanded into a coordinated effort involving multiple agencies. Law enforcement deployed search parties, aerial surveillance, and canine teams throughout the river area, with civilian volunteers from both states participating continuously until May 11 when efforts were heightened.
The Susquehanna River, among the longest waterways on the East Coast, creates major difficulties for search and rescue operations. The area near Nichols is characterized by thick brush, high embankments, and agricultural areas that hinder both land-based and aquatic recovery operations.
The situation escalated from a simple missing person report into a substantial regional search operation. Location was significant: Nichols is positioned in the Southern Tier region of New York, approximately between Binghamton and Elmira, just above the New York-Pennsylvania border.
The May 9 Morning When He Vanished
Malmstrom left his home in the 2100 block of East River Road around 7:45 a.m. on May 9, state police indicated. Family members reported him absent the same day, informing officers he appeared to be acting unusually before departing.
Standing approximately 5-foot-10 with dark hair, he was last seen in a dark-colored top.
Ongoing Investigation with Unanswered Questions
Authorities have not designated the death as criminal in nature but have not ruled out any scenarios. Investigators have not revealed what physical evidence, if any, was found along the suspected path from his house to the waterway, and have remained silent about whether recording devices or witness accounts assisted in directing search efforts.
The family conflict that occurred on May 9 and their observations about his strange demeanor are significant factors in the investigation, though police have not publicly connected these facts to any specific explanation for how he came to be in the river.
The investigation is still underway. Anyone possessing information about Malmstrom’s movements on May 9 morning, or facts that might help establish the sequence of events from when he left home until he disappeared, should report to law enforcement. The New York State Police can be contacted at 607-561-7400.
In Nichols, a town with under 2,500 inhabitants, the loss has significantly impacted the small riverside town. The volunteer searchers included neighbors, schoolmates and acquaintances — individuals who had participated in the comprehensive search hoping to bring Malmstrom back to his family.
The family has not announced service details at this time, but a fundraiser on GoFundMe requesting $20,000 has been created to help cover funeral expenses and other financial needs.