Earlier this week a 15-year-old blind boy with autism went missing from Molena, Georgia.
Now there is a sad update.
The boy, Ephramin Moisey Burgeen, was found in a small pond, the Pike County Sheriff confirmed Thursday.
At the moment, investigators said it does not appear the boy was the victim of foul play, according to 11Alive.
According to the sheriff’s office, he was found at approximately 10:49 p.m.
Pike County Fire Chief Rick O’Barr told 11Alive’s LaTasha Givens that the boy liked to play in the pond, about 300 feet from his home.
The search Ephramin got a whole community involved.
Over 100 volunteers searched the area after he was reported missing around 5 p.m. Wednesday. Officers also searched the area on horseback. The 15-year-old had siblings and his mother helped in the search.
The Pike County officials coordinated the massive search, using volunteer searchers, drone technology and helicopters.
Once the air search was completed, a team of search dogs went to a beaver pond about 300 yards from the house and alerted at the pond.
“We sent a team to see if we could get a boat into the pond and while looking for a way to get in, discovered his body in the middle of the pond,” said PCFD public information officer Anita Neath.
One of the searchers found Burgeen after falling into a hole nearby.
“Thank you to all of the citizens who came out and assisted Emergency Services last night. The outpouring of support and help from our citizens is what helps make Pike County a special place,” said sheriff Jimmy Thomas.
So very sad. May he rest in peace, and may God wrap his comforting arms around his family at this time, and in the days ahead.
