Missing 5-year-old found dead in Grand Prairie creek; police don't suspect foul play
A 5-year-old boy who was reported missing from his Grand Prairie home on Sunday has been found dead Monday in a nearby creek, authorities confirmed.
A team of divers with the Grand Prairie Police Department discovered the body of Santiago Aburto Gonzalez in South Cottonwood Creek, adjacent to the Ashton Park Apartment Homes. Due to zero visibility in the water, divers conducted a manual search and located the child's body approximately four feet below the surface, where he was not visible from ground level, authorities said.
The extensive search effort included officers and personnel from multiple agencies, including the Grand Prairie Police and Fire Departments, Arlington and Garland Police Departments, the U.S. Marshals Service, the FBI, Dallas Police, Texas DPS Air Support, Search One Rescue K9s, and drones from the Grand Prairie Police UAS Drone Unit.
The Grand Prairie PD said in a statement they've met with the victim's family and extended its deepest condolences, pledging continued support.
While the case remains under investigation, police said no foul play is suspected.
Santiago Gonzalez's disappearance
Santiago Gonzalez, who was nonverbal and had a form of autism, was last seen around 7 p.m. on Sunday near West Pioneer Parkway and Great Southwest Parkway, according to his mother, Kari Gonzalez.
Kari Gonzalez explained to CBS News Texas that her son managed to get outside through a gap in their balcony, something she never expected.
"He opened the balcony door. He got out onto the balcony. There's a space where he can get out," Kari Gonzalez said. "He never goes out by himself. I'm always taking care of my kid. I woke up at 8, and he was not there."
On Monday morning, authorities issued an Endangered Missing Persons Alert as the search intensified.
The boy's body was later found in a creek bed just a few hundred yards from his home.
What is an Endangered Missing Persons Alert?
An Endangered Missing Persons Alert is similar to an Amber Alert, issued when a person is reported missing, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).
DPS explained that the term "Endangered Missing Persons Alert" was chosen to prevent confusion with Amber Alerts, which are specifically for abducted children.
To qualify for an Endangered Missing Persons Alert, the missing person must be diagnosed with an intellectual disability and/or a pervasive developmental disorder.
