SAN FRANCISCO—The body of Ed Cavanaugh, 45,  the San Francisco teacher who went missing over two weeks ago, has been found by authorities.

Cavanaugh's motorcycle, near where his body was found
Cavanaugh’s motorcycle, near where his body was found.

The body was located not far from the motorcycle Cavanaugh was last seen riding before he went missing on July 17 in the El Dorado National Forest.

Though the body has not yet been positively identified by the El Dorado County’s Sheriff Office as belonging to the Long Island native, family and friends are confident enough to have officially ended their search.

“My family is heartbroken to share the news that Ed has been found but he is no longer with us,” Cavanaugh’s sister, Debbie Cavanaugh Schultz, wrote on the search effort’s Facebook page LOV(ED) FOREVER. In a statement issued by the El Dorado County’s Sheriff Office, she added, “Ed has touched so many lives in countless ways. We hope all who love Ed find comfort in knowing that his bright spirit is with us all during this heartbreaking time.”

The Geographic Information Center also worked to help find Ed Cavanaugh
The Geographic Information Center also worked to help find Ed Cavanaugh

The search for Cavanaugh was intensive. El Dorado, Yolo, and Stanislaus County authorities scoured the forest on foot, occasionally accompanied by search dogs. The California National Guard even used a military drone to aid searchers by scouting for Cavanaugh from the air. This is the first time military drones have been used in a search and rescue effort.

In addition to the search effort’s Facebook presence, campaigns for Cavanaugh were set up all over the internet. Hashtags #FindEdToday and #BringEdHome trended on social media, and a crowdsourcing Fundly page raised over $69,000 from 669 donors to fund the search.

Cavanaugh’s family also offered a $10,000 reward to anyone who could help locate him.

For 14 years, Cavanaugh served as a teacher for the San Francisco Unified School District’s Downtown Continuation High School. In a statement reacting to Cavanaugh’s death, San Francisco Superintendent Richard Carranza said, “Ed did what all of us in education hope to do–he changed many lives for the better. … [His colleagues and students] describe him as a very kind and charismatic person who was also very persistent—students knew that there was someone who would never give up on them.”

Carranza also reported that the district is planning a day for students and staff to honor Cavanaugh’s memory.