Autistic Child Found Deceased in Hillsborough County Pond
A 5-year-old autistic and non-verbal boy who wandered away from his home in Hillsborough County, Florida, was found dead in a pond.
Greenville Spartanburg Asheville Anderson, SC, August 9, 2026 —
A 5-year-old boy, identified as autistic and non-verbal, was discovered deceased in a pond in Hillsborough County, Florida. The child had reportedly wandered away from his residence.
Details regarding the timeline of when the child went missing and when he was found have not been provided. The specific location of the pond within Hillsborough County was also not specified.
Autistic and non-verbal individuals can sometimes be prone to wandering, a behavior known as elopement, which poses significant safety risks. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the child’s disappearance and subsequent discovery.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has been involved in the investigation. Further information, including the cause of death and details about the child’s home and immediate surroundings, has not yet been released.
Story summarized from the original created by Brandy Beard on www.foxcarolina.com, see more information here.