WARREN COUNTY —
A 4-year-old boy found dead in a body of water near his Franklin Twp. home Monday was identified as Jonah Smith, of the 8800 block of Cam Drive.
Smith, who was reportedly autistic, was reported missing by his father at about 12:58 p.m., said Maj. Brian Tinch of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.
http://liarcatchers.com/missing_persons_investigations.html
Authorities found the body at 2:25 p.m. in a large pond at Waterscape Aquafarm, a sport fishing club, adjacent to the boy’s home. Neighbors said the pond was a former “gravel pit” and is surrounded by a fence. The boy’s father and grandmother were home at the time the boy was reported missing.
“As you can imagine, they’re pretty upset,” Tinch said.
The sheriff’s office and Joint Emergency Medical Services were at the scene. The body was taken to the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office for autopsy.
Neighbors gathered as news of the boy’s death spread through the neighborhood.
Christina Thacker came to the area to see if she could help when her mother sent her a text about what was happening.
“It’s awful, it’s devastating,” she said.
Bill Cencebaugh, who has lived in the neighborhood for 38 years, said, “Like everybody else, you’ve got to feel sorry for them. He described the neighborhood as “tight knit,” but not to the point where everyone knew each other. He noted that it was rare for police or other authorities to appear on their street.
Tinch said the sheriff’s office “sympathizes greatly with the family at this very troublesome time.”
The investigation is ongoing and it is not yet known if any charges are pending.
