After going missing for several hours, a six-year-old kid with Down syndrome and nonverbal autism was discovered dead in his backyard pond.
At 8:45 p.m. on Sunday, Landon “Waldy” Raber was reported missing after allegedly straying from his Curdsville, Virginia, home.
The Buckingham County Sheriff’s Office reported that Raber’s body was discovered in a small pond on the property where he went missing at around 5.30 am on Monday.
The cause of ‘Waldy’s’ demise is still unknown.
Since the news of his body’s discovery, condolences have poured in, with one close family friend writing: “Our hearts are devastated.
“This adorable boy was discovered to be secure in Jesus’ arms after an all-night search.
This earth has lost a beautiful light, but Heaven is now even more radiant, and Landon is smiling, running, and pain-free!
“Landon, aka “Waldy,” affected so many lives in his six years, and the Waldy’s ice cream truck his family ran helped promote awareness and support for kids with down syndrome and autism.”
On Sunday night, the public was warned to keep an eye out for the boy who was last seen wearing gray jeans and a green and blue t-shirt.
The search was being assisted by all of the Buckingham County fire departments, Cumberland deputies, a helicopter, and canine teams.
A “significant number” of missing autistic children are at risk of physical harm or drowning, according to research from the American Academy of Pediatrics, who found that nearly half of autistic children disappear from their contexts.
In a poll conducted by the Academy, 49% of respondents said their autistic child had made at least one attempt to run after the age of four.
About 24% of parents reported that their child was in risk of drowning, while 66% stated they were worried about a possible harm from a car accident.
Children with autism may “seek out small or enclosed settings” and “go toward water or places of special significance to them,” according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Or, they can strive to avoid overwhelming stimuli including sights, noises, environment, or other people’s activities.
According to the group, these are all risk factors for autistic children, who may also be more vulnerable to exploitation.
In a statement, Sheriff William G. Kidd Jr. said: “This is a very tragic and unfortunate situation.
We lament this loss collectively.
I would want to personally thank everyone who helped with the search, including the fire agencies and the numerous locals who came to lend a hand.
I sincerely appreciate each and every one of you, and I say thank you.
‘I, along with the neighborhood, send our condolences to the family for their loss.’