A beloved New Jersey high school football coach has been found dead after his family hasn’t heard from him since Christmas.
Esteve Iannoti72, was pronounced dead on Wednesday, December 31, after police located his Jeep in a remote area of Cumberland County, New Jersey.
“It is with heavy hearts that we must advise that Mr. Iannotti has been located and tragically passed away,” the Logan Township Police Department said. announced Wednesday. “Out of respect for Coach I and his family’s privacy, this will be the only update on this unfortunate case and we will not be commenting further. Thank you for your understanding.”
Authorities did not specify whether Iannoti’s body was found inside the Jeep. NBC10 Philadelphia released helicopter video of the Jeep being taken away by a flatbed truck on Wednesday.
No cause of death has been announced.
Iannoti’s family last had contact with him on Christmas Eve, and he told police his 1997 Jeep Wrangler was also missing.
“His cell phone was found on the couch at the residence and family members indicated that it was a common practice for him to leave the house without taking his phone with him,” the Logan Police Department said.
After the investigation, Ring surveillance video from a neighbor’s house showed Iannotti pulling out of his driveway at 12:45 pm ET on December 26.
Iannoti’s Jeep hasn’t crossed a bridge since it disappeared, and there’s been no activity on his bank account since before Christmas.
In its initial report, the Logan Police Department said foul play was not suspected.
Iannoti previously taught and coached freshman football at Kingsway Regional High School in Woolwich Township, New Jersey, according to The Post-Message.
Dave Reinersa former teammate of Iannoti’s, shared an emotional post about the late educator and coach via Facebook.
“I met Mr. I over 30 years ago when I entered the Kingsway community,” Reiners wrote via Facebook on wednesday “I had to share a classroom with him. Not once did he complain that I was in his space. He graciously accepted me, guided me, and generally taught me the ropes. Everything I became was as a result of Steve Iannotti.”
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Reiners added, “When I saw him around town he always had a smile on his face and asked me how everything was going. He was a great individual and the world will be a lesser place without him. People always talk about the lives teachers touch, Steve was (a) teacher who took it tenfold. Between his orientation in the classroom and his orientation on the sports fields, he touched so many lives.”
Many former co-workers commented on Reiner’s post with similar messages about the late Iannoti.
“He touched all his colleagues,” one person wrote. “He never complained and genuinely loved his job and his students. He will be missed.”
In a separate post, another community member wrote: “God bless his family and friends. Logan will never be the same. Every time we pass him jogging we are inspired.”