Missing 5-year-old found dead in pond near his Waldorf home – NBC4 Washington

A five-year-old autistic boy was found dead in a pond near his home in Charles County, Maryland, after hours of searching.

Miles McMahon, who was nonverbal, went missing Sunday morning from his home on St. Paul’s Drive in Waldorf.

Maryland State Police divers found his body in a nearby pond late Sunday evening.

According to the advocacy group Autism Speaks, drowning is the leading cause of death among autistic people who wander, and autistic children and adults are often drawn to water.

“We are heartbroken, as are Miles’ family and all of you. Please keep Miles and his family in your thoughts and prayers, as well as all first responders and everyone who helped,” the Charles County Sheriff’s Office said.

Authorities searched for Miles McMahon for hours

McMahon was last seen on security video leaving his home and skipping around his front yard while wearing a red T-shirt and no pants or shoes, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office said.

Family members searched for the boy but called 911 when they couldn’t find him.

Authorities arrived around 11 a.m., established a perimeter and began focusing on nearby waters. The sheriff’s office said searchers used special tracking apps, trained dogs, drones and a police helicopter. Neighbors were asked to keep an eye out for McMahon near their homes and to view security footage.

Hours passed without anyone finding McMahon, and the sheriff’s office asked people to keep their outside lights on to help with the search.

The Maryland State Police dive team found McMahon in a pond near his home, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office said shortly after midnight. Search forces had been focused on the pond throughout the day, but a diving team that had been on the scene earlier had not found it, authorities said.

McMahon is the second autistic child to die in a D.C.-area pond since July.

According to the National Autism Association, children with autism are 160 times more likely to die from drowning than children in general.

Here are tips from Autism Speaks to help you keep your loved ones safe around the water:

• Emphasize the dangers of water
• Take precautions to prevent hiking
• Sign up for swimming lessons