KENNETT — Kennett Township Police report that a child on the autism spectrum who was reported missing drowned in a pond located in the boy’s neighborhood.
On Monday, April 29, at 2:46 p.m., the Kennett Township Police were dispatched for a missing 5-year-old male, diagnosed on the autism spectrum, from the 600 block of Chandler Mill Road in Kennett Township.
Upon arrival, police began checking the residence, the surrounding homes, and a large, wooded area. Police requested additional resources from the Kennett Fire Company and Longwood Fire and EMS Units to assist in the search, as well as a drone from The Southern Chester County Regional Police Department.
Before the requested backup arrived, Kennett Township Police found the missing boy face down in a pond on a neighbor’s property. Officers dove into the pond, removed the child, and immediately began CPR until the arrival of Longwood Fire and EMS. Life savings measured continued as the boy was transported to A.I. Dupont Hospital in Delaware.
Despite all additional efforts, the child was unfortunately pronounced dead at the hospital.
The child’s name will not be provided until all next-of-kin notifications have been made.
The Detective from the Kennett Township Police Department and the Chester County Detectives are investigating the facts and circumstances that led to the boy’s death. All inquiries or additional information can be made to Chief Matt Gordon at matthew.gordon@kennett.pa.us.
