The body of a young boy who went missing from a South Carolina elementary school has been found in a body of water hours after his disappearance.
Lionel Ramirez Cervantes, 8, ran away from school officials Thursday morning at Bell’s Crossing Elementary School in Simpsonville.
Cervantes, who was autistic and somewhat non-verbal, according to the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, was last seen near the schoolyard.
The staff had gone after the boy, but he climbed over a fence and disappeared before they could catch up with him.
After his disappearance, authorities combed the area until a dive team found his body in a pond a short distance from the school.
Cervantes, who was autistic and somewhat non-verbal, according to the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, was last seen near the school playground
Staff at Bell’s Crossing Elementary School chased after the boy, but he climbed over a fence and managed to disappear before they could catch up with him.
Authorities released a surveillance photo of Cervantes this morning to help those searching for him. The photo shows what clothes he is wearing.
The local sheriff announced in a social media post that they had found his body.
They said: ‘The GCSO is heartbroken to report that 8-year-old Lionel Ramirez Cervantes, who wandered away from Bells Crossing Elementary School, was found in a body of water on Lenox Lake Drive, a short distance from the school.
Lionel is believed to have left the school and was last seen at the playground around 11:10 a.m.
‘Deputies responded to the scene to initiate search and rescue operations and conducted them throughout the day.
‘Shortly after 3 p.m., Lionel’s body was found by members of the dive team in a body in the water off Lenox Lake Drive.’
Sheriff Hobart Lewis said at a news conference: “This is a really horrible situation to be honest with you. At some point, we don’t know how or why, he ended up in that pond.
“There are many broken hearts today in the school and community. We want to thank the community who came out to find this young man.”
After the disappearance, authorities scoured the area before a dive team discovered his body in a pond a short distance from the school, seen here
Authorities have released a surveillance photo of Cervantes to help those searching for him. The photo was taken this morning and shows the clothes he is wearing.
Greenville County Schools Superintendent W. Burke Royster added: “Words fail to describe this tragedy.
“Our hearts and prayers are with this family, this community and this school community.”
After news broke that the young man had passed away, users on social media prayed for the family.
One person posted: ‘So heartbreaking for everyone involved. Prayers to his family and the school.’
Another added: ‘This breaks my heart! Praying for this family and everyone involved.’