Five-Year-Old Girl With Autism Found Dead in Retention Pond in Fort Pierce, Florida, Hours After Being Reported Missing, Police Say
Police in Fort Pierce, a city in St. Lucie County, Florida, said on October 24 that a five-year-old girl reported missing by her family that morning was found dead in the afternoon in a retention pond near her home.
Police identified the girl as Mayra Glory Odelus, who had autism and was non-verbal. She was last seen in the 5100 block of Portofino Landings Boulevard, north of Okeechobee Road and east of South Jenkins Road. Fort Pierce police spokesperson Juliana Walker said the girl's father reported her missing at 11:39 a.m.; Maj. Michael Santiago said the father noticed her missing at about 11:10 a.m. and the family began searching the area.
Santiago said the girl always carried a tablet, and the family was pinging the device, which appeared to be near the water, though the tablet was ultimately not located. Port St. Lucie police sent a bloodhound that tracked to the water, and Fort Pierce police used drones in the search. A dive team from the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office then found the girl at about 3 p.m., roughly 20 yards out in the boomerang-shaped retention pond, not far from the family home.
Santiago said there were no signs of trauma to the body, and it was not known how long she had been in the water. Police said the investigation continues and an autopsy will be performed. Santiago said police urge the public to be aware of where their children are at all times, especially children with autism, and to secure doors, noting that children with autism often are drawn to water.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Fort Pierce Police Department at 772-467-6800.
Source: GSM, United States
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 资料图：佛罗里达州 Fort Pierce 市政厅。Tamanoeconomico 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。File photo: Fort Pierce City Hall in Florida. By Tamanoeconomico, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
