What was meant to be a summer day by the pool ended in heartbreak for a Springfield family, after a 5-year-old boy drowned Sunday evening at the Bennett Spring State Park campground pool. When first responders arrived, they found adults already performing CPR. The child was rushed to a hospital in Kansas City, where he later died. His family says they are now making funeral arrangements and have asked for donations to help cover services and counseling.
What happened at Bennett Spring
Lebanon police said they received a 911 call just before 7 p.m. Sunday. By the time emergency crews got to the campground pool, two adults were doing CPR on the boy, who was one of six children at the site. He was identified as 5-year-old Colton Alverson and was taken to a Kansas City hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to KY3.
Family remembers Colton
Colton’s father, Steven Alverson, described his son as “always a happy little man” who loved swimming and cartoons. His stepmother, Samantha Ramirez, remembered him as “sweet” and said he enjoyed counting and learning his ABCs. The family said they are focused on helping Colton’s siblings cope with the loss while they make funeral plans. Their comments were shared with reporters, per KY3.
Memorials and obituary
Holman‑Howe Funeral Homes has posted an obituary for Colton James Alverson that lists his date of death as July 12 and notes that arrangements are pending. A fundraiser titled “In Loving Memory of Baby Colton Alverson” is asking for donations to help pay for funeral expenses, cremation and counseling for Colton’s siblings and other family members, as outlined on GoFundMe.
Why this matters
Drowning is the leading cause of injury death for children ages 1 to 4 in the United States, and many of those deaths in that age group happen in swimming pools. Public health experts point to “layers of protection” such as constant supervision, barriers like pool fencing and formal swim lessons as ways to reduce risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention details those risk factors and prevention strategies on its drowning prevention pages, according to the CDC site.
About the park
Bennett Spring State Park, one of Missouri’s earliest state parks, is known for its spring-fed streams, trout fishing and campgrounds that draw visitors from across the region. The park’s official page offers contact information, reservation details and safety guidance for campers and day visitors, including campground information and advisories on the Missouri State Parks site. According to the Missouri Secretary of State, Bennett Spring State Park is listed as "Bennett Spring State Park, Dallas County, 12 miles west of Lebanon on Missouri 64."
What investigators say
Lebanon police are serving as the lead agency in the case and say they are still working to determine exactly what happened at the pool that evening. The family has requested privacy as they navigate the coming weeks, make arrangements and support Colton’s siblings through their grief.
