TAVARES, Fla. – The body of a second U.S. soldier who went missing earlier this month in Morocco has now been recovered, according to Army officials on Wednesday.
In a release, military officials identified the second soldier as 19-year-old Spc. Mariyah Symone Collington, 19, of Tavares.
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Collington had served as an air and missile defense crewmember and was assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, officials added.
The release shows that Collington was one of two soldiers who went missing on May 2 near the Cap Draa Training Area during African Lion 26, an annual joint exercise..
According to the U.S. Army, over 1,000 U.S. and Moroccan military and civil personnel helped in the search, covering well over 21,000 square kilometers.
“The combined recovery team located and retrieved (Collington) May 12 from a coastal cave roughly 500 meters from where both Soldiers reportedly entered the ocean,” the release reads. “Challenging ocean conditions, coastal terrain and the cave’s accessibility complicated search and recovery operations throughout the effort.”
Now, military officials said that the focus is shifting to recovery and repatriation of the two soldiers’ bodies.
“The loss of Spc. Collington is a profound loss for the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command,” Brig. Gen. Curtis King said. “Her recovery closes the search for our two missing Soldiers, but our commitment to caring for their Families, friends, and teammates continues. We are grateful to the U.S. and Moroccan forces for their professionalism and support throughout the search efforts.”
The release states that Collington had entered the Regular Army’s Delayed Entry Program in 2023 before beginning active-duty service in 2024.
Afterward, she completed Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, as a 14P air and missile defense crewmember. She then reported to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, in Ansbach, Germany, in February 2025 and was promoted to specialist on May 1, the release explains.
Army officials said that Collington was known for her character and impact across her battery.
“Spc. Collington was an outstanding Soldier whose unwavering enthusiasm and positive spirit uplifted every environment she entered,” Capt. Spencer Grider, command of Charlie Battery, 5-4 ADAR, said. “Her infectious energy, whether in the office, in the field, or among her peers, fostered connection and camaraderie, bringing people together through her genuine warmth and heartfelt sense of humor. Her presence will be greatly missed across our formation.”
Collington’s awards and decorations include the Army Service Ribbon. Her next of kin has been notified.
Military officials said the incident remains under investigation.