UPDATE: Remains Of Second Missing U.S. Soldier Discovered In Morocco

We have an unfortunate update on the second U.S. soldier who went missing in Morocco.

As WLT Report previously reported, two U.S. Army soldiers went missing in the first week of May during African Lion 2026.

African Lion is an annual Army training operation led by the U.S. Africa Command.

The body of one of the soldiers was recovered last week, and the soldier has since been identified as First Lieutenant Lamont Key Jr. of the U.S. Army.

Now, U.S. Army officials have announced they have recovered the body of the second soldier.

The Hill provided the full details on the recovery mission for the second soldier and revealed the soldier’s identity:

The remains of the second U.S. soldier who had been missing in Morocco since May 2 were recovered Tuesday from a coastal cave.

The deceased service member was identified as Spc. Mariyah Symone Collington, 19, of Taveres, Fla., the Army said in a Thursday press release.

Collington and 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. went missing during military exercises in Morocco, setting off a multinational search operation that deployed more than 1,000 U.S. and Moroccan military and civil personnel across air, naval and artificial intelligence equipment.

The two soldiers fell off a cliff into the ocean during an off-duty hike near the Cap Draa Training Area during African Lion 26 — a multinational military exercise held annually in Morocco and led by the U.S. The incident remains under investigation.

“Royal Moroccan Armed Forces transported the Soldier’s remains by a Moroccan helicopter to the morgue of Moulay El Hassan Military Hospital in Guelmim, Morocco,” the statement said, adding that the remains of Collington and Key are en route to the United States.

Collington served as an air and missile defense crew member and was assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, according to the Army.

She began active-duty service in 2024, completing Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Sill, Okla., as a 14P air and missile defense crew member. She then reported to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, in Ansbach, Germany, in February 2025, promoted to specialist on May 1, 2026.

Her awards and decorations include the Army Service Ribbon.

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“Spc. Collington was a bright light in this battalion. 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,” Lt. Col. Chris Couch, the 5-4 ADAR battalion commander, said in a statement. “As we hold her Family, friends, and teammates in our prayers, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the U.S. personnel and Moroccan partners who dedicated themselves to bringing her home.”

Here’s a photo of both Collington and Key:

Devastating. The U.S. has recovered the remains of two soldiers who went missing on an off-duty hike after a military exercise in Morocco

Spc. Mariyah Symone Collington, 19

1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key, Jr., 27

RIP.

Say a prayer for their families 🙏 pic.twitter.com/RBiSeMXIAj

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) May 14, 2026

News 3 LV  revealed how many soldiers were used in the search efforts:

They were reported missing on May 2 after participating in African Lion, a U.S.-led multinational military exercise in Morocco.

Search and rescue efforts included more than 1,000 U.S. and Moroccan military and civilian personnel.

African Lion 26, launched in April, spans Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal. The exercise includes more than 7,000 personnel from over 30 nations and is the largest U.S. joint military exercise in Africa since 2004.

Please keep the families of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr and Spc. Mariyah Symone Collington in your prayers.