An 8-year-old Celina boy reported missing yesterday was later found dead in a nearby neighborhood pond, according to police. The child, identified by authorities as MJ Ashmead, was discovered in the Sutton Fields subdivision close to his home. Officers called the case a tragedy and said they have no reason to suspect foul play.
Celina police were alerted at about 9:30 a.m. that Ashmead was missing and was last seen on Rostherne Drive in the Sutton Fields neighborhood, according to NBC 5. First responders and volunteers quickly spread out through the area, using canines and the Texas Sky Ranger helicopter to help comb fields and streets near Wilder Avenue and Sandown Drive.
Search Turned To A Neighborhood Pond
Around noon, the search effort shifted to a pond not far from the boy’s home, where teams recovered his body, FOX 4 reported. “Let me be very clear. Police have no reason to believe that foul play is involved in this tragedy,” Celina Police public information officer John Thacker said, offering condolences to Ashmead’s family.
Officials Pause For Investigation
Police described Ashmead as a child with severe developmental disabilities and classified him as a critical missing child during the search. Officers declined to take questions at yesterday's news conference as the investigation continued, NBC 5 reported. Authorities asked anyone with information about the case to contact the Celina Police Department or Collin County dispatch, and no additional details were released.
Why Children With Developmental Disabilities Are At Higher Risk
Public health researchers note that children with developmental or cognitive disabilities face a higher risk of wandering and accidental drowning. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury death for young children and that deaths among people with autism spectrum disorder are disproportionately due to drowning, according to the CDC. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises close supervision around water, securing access to pools, ponds, and other hazards, and early swim instruction for at-risk families, with detailed prevention guidance available through the AAP.
City officials called the loss heartbreaking and asked the public to respect the family’s privacy while investigators complete their work. Neighbors gathered near the scene as first responders cleared the area, FOX 4 reported. Celina police said they will share more information when it is appropriate to do so.
