2 NJ best friends, 10 and 11, found dead in river

Devine Nicholas (left); Francisco Perera (right) / CBS/WCBS (handout)

(CBS/AP) NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. - Two New Jersey boys who said they were going to a park and didn't return home have been found dead in a river.

New Brunswick police Capt. J.T. Miller says the body of 10-year-old Francisco Perera was found Monday afternoon near the base of a bridge in Highland Park. The body of 11-year-old Devine Nicholas was found nearby hours later.

It's unclear what caused their deaths. But Devine's mother, Carol Leonard, says he couldn't swim. Officials say there's no evidence of foul play.

The best friends last were seen by relatives Sunday evening. They were the subjects of an intense search.

Franklin Township resident Jennifer Smakolski says she saw them in the Raritan River up to their ankles Sunday night and they told her they could swim. She tells Newark's The Star-Ledger newspaper she'll be "thinking about this forever."

Reportedly, Perera told his mom that he was going to a park with Nicholas, according to CBS Station WCBS New York.

"It's really scary to see a young boy, pulled out of the water like that. Really sad for the family," said Ramone Martinez via WCBS.

[askagain]

Very sad. As a nine or ten year old child, I would climb under a bridge and sit on the pillars to fish. Of course, my parents did not know this. It is amazing how some children survive risky behavior while others don't. This must be a horrible loss for the parents.

[thetruthwillout]

Very sad story. My thoughts and prayers are with the families.

[twatts1000]

It tears me apart to hear about young kids not knowing how to swim...

http://www.usaswimming.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabId=2093&Alias=Rainbow&Lang=en