Jeremy Sanchez (Image via family photo)

The body of Jeremy Sanchez, 17, who went missing in El Monte, California, was discovered by a search party — including the friend who police now say stabbed him to death ...

Via  CBS Los Angeles:

Sheriff’s investigators say they received information early Thursday that a friend of 17-year-old Jeremy Sanchez may have been involved in his death. After serving a search warrant at the boy’s home, he was arrested for murder and booked at the Los Padrinos Juvenile Detention Center.

Detectives confirmed that the suspect had actually found Jeremy’s body as friends and family conducted their own search.

The suspect has not been identified, and authorities said a murder weapon has not yet been recovered.

Jeremy was found face down next to the river at Thienes Avenue and Parkway Drive in South El Monte. He had been stabbed to death.

The boy’s father reported him missing when his school called to say Jeremy was not at school. A search was immediately launched by family and friends, who found the teen next to the river.

Sources have confirmed the victim and his alleged killer, 16, were not just friends, but in a romantic relationship — and the ending of that relationship may well be why things turned deadly.

Via NBC Los Angeles:

L.A. County Sheriff's investigators later confirmed to NBC4 that the victim and 16-year-old suspect were in a romantic relationship, and detectives believe a break-up led to the stabbing and ultimate death of the 17-year-old victim. 

Tragic.