The lifeless body of a 4-year-old autistic boy who went missing on Mother’s Day has been pulled from the water near Castle Island in Boston.
The boy, Mohamed Fofana, had gone to the park with his grandfather and older sister around 7 p.m. on Sunday when he went missing.
Mohamed and his sister were playing near the coast near Castle Island, located at the northern end of a stretch of beaches overlooking Boston Harbor, when the youngster wandered off.
The boy’s frantic grandfather called 911 to report his grandson missing. He then called the boy’s mother, Mantenjay Fofana, saying, “I see your daughter but I don’t see Mohamed.
A massive search was underway by state and local police, a marine unit, a dive team and an air wing. The boy’s body was located on the shore of Spectacle Island, just across from Castle Island around 12:30 p.m., according to state police.
Massachusetts State Police released the tragic news in a tweet on Sunday evening.
Mohamed Fofana, 4, went to the park with his grandfather and older sister around 7 p.m. on Sunday when he went missing
“Yesterday they came with grandfather for the playground,” said the boy’s distraught mother, Mantenjay Fofana (pictured). ‘He called me, ‘I see your daughter but I don’t see Mohamed’
Massachusetts State Police, Boston Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services, and Massachusetts Environmental Police participated in the horrific search on Mother’s Day.
“With great sadness, we report that we located Mohamed’s body at 12:29 p.m. today on the shore of Castle Island,” the tweet read.
“Our Suffolk County Detective Unit will conduct the follow-up investigation into the death. We express our deepest condolences to his family.
The body will be transferred to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, BNC News reported.
The boy’s distraught mother told NBC News she was at work when she learned her young son was missing. She said her son and daughter were with their grandfather.
She said her son had autism and didn’t speak well. He also suffered from sickle cell anemia.
A representative at the scene said the mother and grandfather were in shock.
“She is in shock and keeps calling his name,” they said. “The grandfather feels very guilty.
The boy’s devastated grandfather watches in disbelief as his grandson, Mohamed, 4, wanders out of Castle Island Park in the South Bronx, and was later found dead
For hours, marine units and dive teams from multiple law enforcement and public safety agencies searched for the young boy in an area known as the Western Way, which connects Dorchester Bay to the south and the Channel Boston’s main north, according to state police.
For hours, marine units and dive teams from multiple law enforcement and public safety agencies searched for the young boy in an area known as the Western Way, which connects Dorchester Bay to the south and the Channel Boston’s main north, according to state police. .
Side-scan sonar was deployed from three boats, providing a sonar image of the ocean floor and divers were investigating any anomalies detected by the side-scan sonar, state police said.
They also conducted what amounts to an underwater search along the Castle Island seawall to a distance of 150 yards offshore, according to state police.
The State Police Air Wing and the U.S. Coast Guard conducted an aerial search along the coastline, which was also searched by drone with the Boston Fire Department, state police said. .
Detectives reviewed camera footage in an effort to determine Mohamed’s potential travel route from the playground, according to state police.
Those who heard the terrible Mother’s Day news shared their condolences on Twitter.
‘Heartbreaking. I was hoping for a good result. Devastating. My best friend and I were rushing out the door when I got the notification that he was missing. I wish I could have helped with the research or done something,” they wrote.
Another person noted, “Precious child. May he rest in peace.’
