Sheriff Paul C. May has released the following information:

Reference: Missing Child found in pond

On 07/27/2010 at 4:05 PM Deputies from the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office responded to 1183 SE 40^th Ave., in the Pine Glades Estates subdivision of Okeechobee County in reference to a missing 6 year old child.  The Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office, The Okeechobee County Fire and Rescue, and Florida Wildlife Commission Officer collectively searched the area for the missing child.  The information on the child is as follows:

Willie James Alexander Jr.

B/M 11/11/2003 (6 years of age)

4 foot 3 inches

Black short afro

Brown eyes

Red shirt with stripe

Green cargo pants

During the pre-interview it was learned that family members took the garbage to the road and the child was inside the home.  When they returned to the interior of the house, the 6 year old child was missing.  They searched the property for 16 minutes before calling the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office at 4:05 PM.

The Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office called in all available officers to assist in the search for the small child.  There was concern as there was a retention pond 40 yards from the house and the child had been playing near the pond earlier in the day.  Rescue Divers from the Okeechobee County Fire and Rescue were sent into the water in an attempt to find the child.  A second search was completed by the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team.  The child was found, in the retention pond, at 5:38 PM.

Because of the age of the victim, all efforts were made to resuscitate the child.  He was taken to the HCA Raulerson Hospital where the effort to revive him continued.  The child was pronounced dead at 6:34PM.

At this time the death investigation is ongoing into the cause of the horrific accident.

Sheriff May said of the incident, “Our heartfelt feelings and prayers go this family in their time of need.”