The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is deeply saddened to announce that a 5-year-old boy reported missing this morning is deceased.
At 9 a.m., the child’s parents called 911 to report that their son, who has autism, was missing from their home in the 7200 block of Grand Elm Drive in Riverview.
Deputies arrived at 9:11 a.m. and immediately began searching the neighborhood, along with the HCSO K-9 Unit. At 9:20 a.m., a deputy found the child in a retention pond in the community.
Deputies pulled him from the water and began CPR until Hillsborough County Fire Rescue arrived. The child was transported to AdventHealth, where he was pronounced deceased.
“Losing a child is a pain no family should ever know," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “I commend our deputies’ quick response and their attempts to save the child’s life."
This is an active investigation. Any updates will come from the Public Affairs Office.
