Luke Jobson vanished after a night out in Yarm, Cleveland, on Saturday morning – sparking a huge hunt to track him down.
Cops today confirmed a body has been found in a river, hours after the lad's family posted desperate pleas to find him.
His disappearance was said to be "out of character", after he hadn't been in touch with any of his family after vanishing more than 48 hours ago.
Pals claimed he had been chased by five men in a Golf GTI who "tried to run him over."
The trainee engineer was then allegedly doused in pepper spray and left in a river.
'DEAD MEN WALKING'
His cousin Jake wrote on Facebook: "Dead men walking the lot of you c**** watch this use best pray use get locked up before get hold of any of use who the f*** do you think use are I'll do life in jail not a f***** problem coming after you lot.
"No one does this to my f***** little cousin if this body that hasn't been confirmed that just this second has been found in the river is Luke don't give a f*** who you are use know come for me whatever this is guna be let go of watch u absolute f****** scum of the earth."
Cleveland Police said in a statement: "Police searching for missing 22-year-old Luke Jobson have sadly found a body in the river at Yarm this afternoon.
"Although formal identification has yet to take place, Luke's family has been notified and they are being kept updated while they receive support from specially trained officers."
Dani Orb, Luke's desperate girlfriend since October last year, posted she was "living in a nightmare" this morning, adding: "I miss you so much come home."
Pictures of the pair, and Luke with smiling pals, filled his Facebook page as family and friends worked to find him.
He had urged people to speak out, saying "someone knows something" and vowed to find the "scumbags that were chasing him".
He wrote: "My best friend and cousin but everyone knows we were more like brothers always and forever please come home safe soon."
'DEAD MEN WALKING'
Jake's mum, Kelly, urged people to continue searching after police confirmed a body had been found.
She wrote: "It is not confirmed body found is Luke. Please I beg you, look for anything unusual around Preston Park River.
"Everyone go to any river area the current is flowing."
The discovery came hours after cops confirmed a boy aged 16 and two men aged 18 came forward, and will be interviewed over Luke's disappearance.
Today people out helping in the search for Luke, from Thornaby, North Yorkshire, were split into 18 groups to comb over the local area.
Kelly said Luke was seen jumping over a wall at Yarm School after being chased by five men.
DESPERATE SEARCH
She told Teeside Live he has "been beaten up before because girls fancy him and men are jealous of him. But he wouldn’t put himself at risk unless it was really drastic."
She added: "If you want to remain anonymous it doesn't matter just take the information to the police directly. I want as many people out with dogs as we can.
"Lisa [his mum] she's keeping as calm as she can and the police are doing all that they can, we just want sharing and searching, as many people as we can, we're so overwhelmed with all the help, it's been amazing."
She wrote on Facebook over the weekend: "Luke needs to be found an needs to be home – FAST, he is 22, he wouldn't hurt a fly, he is popular, happy calm lad that needs to be found ASAP."
Earlier today she urged people to look in wheelie bin and clothes banks as hundreds joined the search for Luke before they were stood down.
Specially trained officers were seen on the water as the River Tees is searched, and public groups walked through 16 local spots to find a trace of Luke.
About 100 people arrived at Yarm School this morning to help Luke's family search for him.
But Cleveland Police issued a statement asking for people to work with the police, while acknowledging the search was "organised in the very best interests of Luke and his family".
It added: "While we completely understand their concern and distress at his disappearance we have to warn anyone who turns up that unfortunately we cannot facilitate public searches at this stage as specially trained police search teams remain in the area."
Cops at Cleveland Police have asked for anyone with private CCTV or dashcam footage in the area to come forward.
A police spokesman said: "Detectives are appealing for taxi drivers and other drivers in the area between 2am and 3am on the 26th to check any dashcam footage and those who live in Yarm to check private CCTV."
He was wearing black jeans and grey polo top when he was seen outside The Keys on Yarm High Street.
The young man was then seen going towards Osbournes, another pub, before he vanished.
Thousands of people have shared an online appeal launched by his worried family.
Anyone with information should asked to call Cleveland Police on 101.
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