The U.S. Army confirmed Thursday that the remains of the second service member missing in Morocco since May 2 have been recovered from a coastal cave, closing a multinational search operation that spanned more than 13,000 square miles.
Specialist Mariyah Symone Collington, 19, of Tavares, Florida, was identified as the deceased soldier, according to a Thursday press release. She and 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. disappeared during African Lion 26, an annual U.S.-led military exercise in Morocco.
The two soldiers fell from a cliff into the ocean while on an off-duty hike near the Cap Draa Training Area. The incident remains under investigation, but the Army noted that challenging ocean conditions and rugged coastal terrain complicated the search.
More than 1,000 U.S. and Moroccan military and civilian personnel participated in the operation, using drones, helicopters, surface vessels, dive teams, mountaineering units, and artificial intelligence tools. The search covered a vast area equivalent to roughly the size of Maryland.
Collington’s remains were discovered in a cave approximately 500 meters from where she and Key entered the water. The Royal Moroccan Armed Forces transported her body by helicopter to the Moulay El Hassan Military Hospital in Guelmim. Both soldiers' remains are now en route to the United States.
Collington served as an air and missile defense crew member assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, part of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. She joined active duty in 2024, completing training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and reported to her unit in Ansbach, Germany, in February 2025. She was promoted to specialist on May 1.
“Spc. Collington was a bright light in this battalion,” said Lt. Col. Chris Couch, battalion commander. “To the Soldiers who knew her best and served alongside her each day, she was a treasured friend whose loss leaves a deep and profound void on our team.”
Gen. Christopher Donahue, head of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, praised the joint effort: “I can’t say enough about the extraordinary efforts of the Moroccan government, our sister services, and Allies. They were with us during a difficult time—tireless, determined, and compassionate—to aid in the search.”
The last U.S. fatalities during African Lion exercises occurred in 2012, when two Marines died in a helicopter crash near Agadir. The current incident has drawn attention to the risks of off-duty activities during multinational drills, though officials stress that the investigation is ongoing.
Collington’s awards include the Army Service Ribbon. Her family and friends are being supported as the military community mourns the loss of a young soldier described as a “treasured friend” by her battalion commander.
