Authorities in North Carolina have recovered the body of a missing autistic and non-verbal 8-year-old boy who officials said disappeared from his home this week.
The Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office said Zachariah William Walker of Ronda was found de*ad in a small pond near his home just before noon Wednesday.
The small town is about 45 miles northwest of Winston-Salem.
The boy was reported missing by family on Tuesday, according to the sheriff’s office.
More than three dozen local and state agencies, community volunteers and friends and family searched for the boy for more than a 16 hour period after Zachariah disappeared, according to a sheriff’s office press release.
Reavis said between 100 to 150 personnel across dozens of agencies participated in the search for Zach.
“We want them to know and to feel like we were here in a positive way, to support and come to a positive outcome, and even though we did not, we want to know that we brought closure and that they’re in our thoughts and our prayers, and we want to support them to the best of our ability,” Wilkes County Emergency Medical Services Director Jason Reavis said.
Coroner to determine how Zachariah William Walker officially d*ied
Foul play is not suspected in the missing person case, but sheriff’s office Major Logan Kerr said the case remained under investigation on Friday.
A coroner will determine the boy’s official cause and manner of de*ath.
