A 3-year-old boy tragically passed away after straying from his home in the middle of the night and was later discovered in a river.
The child, whose identity has not been disclosed, left his residence during the early hours of Monday, April 13, and was last sighted near a school around midnight. Authorities did not specify the New London, Wisconsin, school where the boy was eventually found.
He was located in the river at approximately 7:17 am local time on the same day and was taken to a medical facility where medical professionals confirmed his death. The duration of time the child spent in the water was unknown, as per law enforcement officials.
It was believed that the young boy wandered about four blocks away from his home after his father’s last check on him around midnight. He was reported missing shortly before 5 am and subsequently found a little over two hours later, after which he was promptly taken to the hospital. By 11:30 am local time, authorities announced the boy’s demise.
John Faucher, a local store owner, observed a significant police presence in New London, Wisconsin, following an Amber alert. Faucher mentioned seeing drones and numerous law enforcement vehicles in the area. He noted the collaborative efforts of various agencies from neighboring communities and the swift response in the early morning search operations.
The New London Police Department posted on Monday: “3 YEAR OLD BOY MISSING FROM 1000 BLOCK OF W BEACON AVE NEW LONDON, 3 FT TALL, BROWN HAIR, BROWN EYES, LAST SEEN WEARING ORANGE CHICAGO BEARS SHIRT AND DIAPER, LAST SEEN NEAR MIDDLE SCHOOL NEAR MIDNIGHT.”
In a subsequent update, the police confirmed: “He has been located!! Thank you everyone for sharing.”
According to ABC2 reports, the child was discovered upstream, and the exact point of entry into the river remains unclear. Speculation suggests that he may have entered the river near his residence and was carried downstream by the current.
Numerous residents utilized the police department’s Facebook page to help spread awareness about the missing boy. Some individuals claimed to have actively searched during the period when the child was still reported as missing.