Mohamed Abou Fofana’s body was discovered on Monday, less than a day after he went missing while playing in a park, prompting a multi-agency search.
Mohamed Abou Fofana, a 4-year-old boy who went missing in a Boston park on Sunday evening, has been found dead.
The kid was discovered deceased along the shoreline of Castle Island, according to a statement issued by Massachusetts State Police on Monday afternoon. The site was more than a mile away from the park where he had been reported missing 17 hours earlier, according to ABC affiliate WCVB-TV.
Following his disappearance, the Massachusetts State Police (MSP), Boston Police, Massachusetts Environmental Police, Boston Fire, and Boston EMS launched a huge search.
According to NBC Boston, authorities were concentrating their efforts on an area of water between Dorchester Bay and the Boston Main Channel. MSP stated this in a news conference just before the boy’s body was discovered.
Mohamed’s mother, Matenjay Fofana, told the TV station earlier in the day on Monday that her son, who had autism and was nonverbal, was high-energy and prone to wandering out.
Around 7 p.m., he was playing at the park next to the beach with his 7-year-old sister and grandfather, according to his mother. According to the publication, the grandfather then lost sight of the youngster.
“He called me and said, ‘I see your daughter, but I don’t see Mohamed,’” she explained to the magazine.
“If anyone sees Mohamed, please give him to police or call 911,” she pleaded, her voice breaking.
The boy’s death is still being investigated. State police told NBC News that “no potential reasons” for his disappearance “have been ruled out at this time.”
“Our detective unit for Suffolk County will conduct the follow-up death investigation,” MSP stated on Twitter. “We send our heartfelt condolences to his family.”
