Heartbreaking discovery made in pond during hunt for missing, non-verbal autistic DC boy aged six
The search for a missing six-year-old autistic boy with a non-verbal voice from Washington DC has ended in tragedy after his body was found in a pond.
Fawzan Hassan was last seen around 3 p.m. Saturday at the playground in Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg, Maryland, the same day that a picnic was held by members of the Ethiopian community. His family was among those in attendance.
Montgomery County police announced at a press conference Sunday evening that the body was found in the pond by a group of volunteers around 5:30 p.m.
Police, firefighters and the Maryland National Capital Police searched for the missing young man throughout the night. Drones were used, but because of the snapping turtles in the pond, no divers were used, officials said.
According to a press release, Montgomery police said the pond was searched twice, but the boy’s body was not recovered.
The body of Fawzan Hassan, 6, who is non-verbal and autistic, was found in a pond in Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg, Maryland
Montgomery police announced at a press conference Sunday evening that the body was found in the pond by a group of volunteers around 5:30 p.m.
Residents in the area were asked to check their properties, including porches and patios, swimming pools, outbuildings, unlocked cars and nearby playgrounds.
They were also asked to review any video footage from surveillance cameras in the home.
The boy’s distraught mother told the news outlet that the boy’s grandmother was watching Hassan in the park during an event held by the Ethiopian community. She said Hassan’s grandmother went looking for his sister and Hassan was gone when she returned.
Azeb Adere of the Ethiopian Eritrean Special Needs Community, who helped organize the search, called the tragedy “a sad day for the community.”
She said there are still many questions about why Hassan wasn’t found sooner and she was sad for the family, but told the news outlet they will have to wait.
“I feel so bad for the parents,” Adere said. “I feel so bad and I hope that the communities learn from this so that this doesn’t happen to another child.”
Police, firefighters and the Maryland National Capital Police searched for the missing young man throughout the night. Drones were used, but because of the snapping turtles in the pond, no divers were used, officials said.
The playground pictured in Bohrer Park
Montgomery County Police Lt. Kristina Hedgepeth explained with certainty that the search for Hassan was thorough, local NBC4 Washington reported.
“We don’t know what’s underneath and how it might affect our instruments and readings and things like that,” she said. “So I think that’s what it all came down to, not that anybody missed a spot. Everything was very thoroughly reviewed.”
Hedgepeth, a parent herself, stressed the importance of vigilance for other parents.
“It’s hard to say this to someone in this situation, but I know as a parent you have to keep your head,” Hedgepeth told the news outlet.
“You have to be constantly vigilant and that’s even harder when you have a child with special needs.”
Before Hassan’s body was found, authorities urged first responders to learn how to approach an autistic child with nonverbal behavior, including using visual cues or familiar objects to get their attention.
Police have cordoned off the area where the boy’s body was found
Several police units and firefighters went looking for Hassan, who went missing on Saturday
“Please call 911 immediately. It is important to approach them calmly and slowly. Avoid sudden movements or loud noises that could startle them,” a press release said.
“Speak in a soft, reassuring tone, even if the child does not respond verbally. Nonverbal autistic children may not respond to their name. Above all, keep the child safe and wait for the police to arrive.”
Officials said no foul play is suspected in the young man’s death. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.