Deputies: Body of missing 8-year old who ran off from school discovered in a pond

The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office said the search for a missing child who escaped from a school in a tragic way ended.

By Anisa Snipes, Alvieann Chandler

Sep 13, 2024 01:10 AM

 

SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) – The search for a missing student who ran away from a school tragically ended on Thursday afternoon.

According to police the deputies, 8-year-old Lionel Ramirez Cervantes was last seen on the school’s playground at Bells Crossing elementary school at 11:00 a.m. the previous Thursday.

Deputies stated that Cervantes was autistic and non-verbal.

Greenville County School officials said Cervantes was in a class with two other students as well as three teachers when he walked out of the classroom and out of the building.

After leaving, several staff members began chasing the man. Cervantes ran through a hill, past the fence of campus, and onto a field, which was grass that was very tall and the staff lost their visibility, according to officials.

At that point School resource officers was on scene as did law enforcement, who was contacted to assist in the search.

Four hours later the deputies reported that Cervantes’s body was found in a pond located off Lenox Lake Drive, a only a short distance from the school, around 3 p.m.

According to the coroner’s report the deceased was found within 6 feet of water however there were no indications of trauma that was significant or any other indication of any form of criminal activity.

RELATED: Buscan a nino hispano de 8 anos que salio corriendo de su escuela en el condado de Greenville

 

Officials have said there were between 50 and 100 officers searching the area, in addition to K-9 units.

At a press conference Greenville County Sheriff Lewis said Cervantes fled the school and was chased by staff. him, but he managed to get away. As of now they don’t know why or how Cervantes ended up in the pond.

Sheriff Lewis stated that there aren’t any indications of charges being brought at the moment.

Bells Crossing Elementary School principal Chris Ross said the school is devastated by the way in which it was able to find one of of its students came to an end.

“We’re devastated. We’re devastated by the loss of the child we love,” said Ross. “We need to bound together, to come together with the support of the district counselors, we’re here for the family, first and foremost, our students and our staff as we all are grieving right now of this tragedy that we can’t make sense over.”

On Thursday on Thursday, The pastor Heindrich Shirley of Celebration Church in Simpsonville the church’s facility was opened to the public from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. to pray.

School officials have confirmed that they will be in school on Friday but counselors will be present for staff and students. They’re also asking nobody else, including volunteers, come in on Friday, so that they can concentrate on supporting the staff and students.

School officials have said they were devastated by the way the search was ended for Cervantes.

“I am devastated by that tragic death of this beautiful boy. In the name of our Board of Trustees, I offer our sincere prayers and sincere condolences to Lionel’s family, his Bell’s Crossing elementary school family and the whole Greenville County Schools community.”

The district has announced that counselors will be present for staff and students. They also request that no guests or volunteers go in on Friday, so that they can concentrate on helping staff and students.

“Words do not suffice to convey the magnitude of this tragedy. Our prayers and hearts are with this family as well as the school community. We are grateful for the swift response from The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and emergency personnel. We deployed a variety of district resources to assist in this search. However, it ended up being an untimely end. There will be counselors available to students and teachers in the school.

District staff will be present to assist staff on Monday who will need time to talk to counselors and work through this tragic event. Whatever is possible to do in order to aid those affected by this tragedy, we’re certainly prepared to help.”

News: More students as younger than 12 are have been charged in a series threat to Upstate School threats

Copyright 2024 WHNS. Copyright 2024 WHNS. All Rights Reserved.