Elberta teen remembered as fierce competitor & loyal friend

ELBERTA, Ala. (WALA) - New details in the death of an Elberta teen that died late last week. Preliminary autopsy reports released Monday morning -- show drowning as the likely cause of death for 17-year-old Avery Pickle.

Pickle was last seen at a house party on Palmetto Creek Thursday afternoon. Investigators say about 20 -- possibly more -- people were there.

After a while, investigators say, people noticed they hadn’t seen Pickle and that’s when they started looking for him. It wasn’t until the next morning that his body was recovered from the shallow waters. The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office is handling the investigation -- and says they don’t suspect foul play.

Meanwhile -- it was supposed to be the best summer of his life -- the summer before his senior year. The tragic loss of has hit the Elberta community hard.

Avery had a lot of close friends -- especially two -- that made up the so-called “trio.” Trey Ridenour recalls they all became fast friends and eventually family.

“One day at football practice -- we were like -- ‘Yo Avery -- you wanna go eat after this? And he was like yeah, of course. And so ever since then it was just us three... We just became best friends so quick. It was kind of weird -- because he was super smart and neither of us were really smart. We were really more like brothers,” said Trey.

Those who knew him best -- called him “Pickle.”

“He didn’t dislike Avery -- he was like -- I’m Pickle. A couple of the girls called him Avery -- but all of us -- it was Pickle,” said Trey.

From football to wrestling -- Avery was competitive!

“Facing -- like seeing who was faster -- because it was always -- his 40 time was .01 Seconds faster than mine -- so every time we hung out -- he was like dude I’m faster than you -- don’t even talk to me... Yada yada,” recalled Trey.

Trey said even as search efforts eventually got underway -- they remained hopeful Avery would turn up okay.

“We were there when they found him and everything -- and it was definitely hard -- I was in shock. Because I really thought he had just that he went to someone’s house. When they called me and said they couldn’t find him -- I was like well -- Avery was the best at Irish goodbyes. He would just leave -- and you would call him and he’d be like I’ve been at the house for like 30 minutes -- I just didn’t feel like being there no more. So, I really thought he was just going to show up,” said Trey.

In the days that have followed -- Avery’s close-knit group of friends have showed up -- leaning on his family during this difficult time.

A gofundme has been started in his name to help the family with funeral expenses. An overwhelming response in the last two days raising nearly $10,000 as of Monday night.

Meanwhile -- they’re sharing “Pickle stories” -- about the young man -- who always had a bright smile and positive outlook.

“Definitely -- how happy he was. How no matter who was sad, who was whatever -- Pickle would say something -- do something funny -- just to make any of us happy. He wanted us all to just be the happiest people on earth. How much he was always there for me. One of the first people there was always Avery -- always Pickle,” said Trey.

Click here if you would like to donate to the Gofundme. They say any money not used will be donated to Elberta High School in Avery’s name.

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