A tragic incident unfolded in Norton, Massachusetts, as a 6-year-old girl with nonverbal autism died after being retrieved from an icy pond. The child, who had gone missing near her home, was located in the Wading River near Barrowsville Pond, according to a report from CBS Boston. Efforts to find the girl began around 2:30 p.m. yesterday, after her parents reported her disappearance to the police.
Upon receiving the distressing call, Norton's police and neighbors, several agencies, alongside the Massachusetts State Police and Norton Emergency Management Agency, launched a comprehensive search. Norton Police Chief Brian Clark, recognizing the urgency of the situation, especially given that children with autism may be drawn to bodies of water, stated to CBS Boston, “You push the button as soon as you can, and we wanted as many resources there as possible." The girl was eventually discovered by dive teams donning cold water rescue gear.
After being found, the child was immediately transported to Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro, where she was pronounced dead. Reflecting on the devastating outcome, Chief Clark said, "This is not the day we were looking for, we offer our thoughts and prayers to the family, we offer our condolences," as reported by CBS Boston. The community's sorrow was further echoed by Norton Fire Chief Shawn Simmons, who conveyed his condolences in a statement shared with NBC Boston.
During the time the search was conducted and the subsequent investigation took place, Power Street was closed to the public. Carol Sheehan, a neighbor, shared her distress with CBS Boston, saying, “As a mother you always worry about little ones, they do wander." While Norton Public Schools released a statement, confirming that the victim was a student of theirs, and Superintendent Jennifer O’Neill stated, "Norton Public Schools is working with our local community partners to provide counseling services and support to our students, staff, and families."
