Kieran McCaffrey in photo taken last summer. The family of Massapequa High School senior Kieran McCaffrey, as well as the community, is still waiting to hear how the teenager died. He was found earlier this month, lying in the water at a local canal in Massapequa and had been missing for several weeks.

Kieran was found by Nassau County Police floating in the water after finding his jacket. His family has designated Feb. 3, 2008, the date he went missing, as the day of his death.

That date was Superbowl Sunday, and he was last seen at 1:30 a.m. hanging out with some other teens on the corner of Jetmore Lane and Forest Avenue. His family maintains, however that this is not true.

He was playing video games at a friend's house all day and when he was told he could not sleep over, he walked home," said his father John McCaffrey.

Mr. McCaffrey said that his son called him and he told him he would pick him up, but he told his father he would walk home. "That was the last time I heard from him," said the father.

How he died remains a mystery, said police, and autopsy results are pending.

But that has not stopped the rumors about how the young man died. Some said they believe it was an accidental drowning- the result of drug or alcohol use, but police have not confirmed any of that.

"There are rumors that my son was a crack addict and it isn't true," said Mr. McCaffrey. "He was taking medication of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and had his blood tested regularly. There were no drugs like that in his system; he was a typical teenager."

Whatever the outcome, his family and friends say he was not the troubled kid that he has been portrayed to be in the news media.

"He was a nice boy who came from a great family," said his grandmother Jean McCaffrey, who confirmed they still did not know the cause of his death.

He was like my brother and my best friend since fourth grade," said Dave Meehan. "He helped me through so many bad times. Everyone who met him, loved him... he was a typical teenager who never did anything really bad."

Kieran was an avid surfer and skateboarder, who was an outstanding athlete with the Massapequa Mustangs Football team and for Massapequa wrestling.

"The Massapequa Board of Education, administration and staff wish to extend their deepest sympathies and condolences to Kieran McCaffreys' family and friends," said a statement from the district. "At a time such as this, there are no words to adequately express our sorrow."

"He was a private kid and we are amazed about all the positive things that have been said about him," said his father, who added that his son was looking forward to going to the prom and attending college. He hoped to pursue a career customizing automobiles.

He leaves behind his parents John and Tara; his sisters, Rhiannon and Siobhan; his grandparents, Kathleen McKeon and Genevieve McCaffrey; his uncles: Donald and Kevin, as well as other family members and friends. He was predeceased by his grandfathers Edwin McKeon and John McCaffrey.

A funeral mass was celebrated at the St. Rose of Lima Church in Massapequa and funeral arrangements were handled by the Massapequa Funeral Home.