A nine-year-old autistic boy was found deceased in the waters near the IKEA Red Hook store in Brooklyn, New York, after being separated from his parents.
The boy, who was non-verbal, was shopping with his parents at the IKEA store on August 16 when he wandered off and was subsequently reported missing before 10 pm.
Law enforcement quickly began a search operation, employing drones, K9 units, and boats in an attempt to find the child. The boy’s identity has been withheld.
Security footage from the store indicated that the boy had exited from the back and was seen heading towards the boardwalk and pier by the Erie Basin.
The search effort escalated when investigators came across the boy’s Crocs in the Red Hook channel. His body was later found in the water near 1 Beard Street around 12:15 am on Thursday, August 17. He was taken to Brooklyn Methodist Hospital and was pronounced dead there. Drowning is believed to be the cause of death, and there is currently no suspicion of foul play.
A worker nearby described the determined efforts to find the boy, highlighting the presence of firefighters and police who requested camera footage from local businesses as part of the search.
