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Joshua McCoy. Photo: Coos County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook
A 5-year-old boy who went missing last week in Oregon has been found dead.
The body of Joshua James McCoy, who was last seen at his home in Hauser, Ore., on the evening of Saturday, Nov. 9, was found less than two miles away around 12:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Nov. 12, the Coos County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
“It is with immense sadness that we have to report that missing Joshua McCoy has been found deceased,” officials wrote.
“Joshua was discovered deceased and found approximately 1.6 miles straight line distance North-West from the child’s residence, and almost 2 miles by road,” the news release added.
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Missing McCoy was found deceased on Nov. 12. Coos County Sheriff’s Office Facebook
A pond at the home “was drained and nothing of interest was located,” sheriff’s officials wrote of their search for the boy.
His cause of death remains unknown at this time, authorities wrote on Facebook later on Tuesday. They added that no one is currently in custody.
Joshua, who had autism, went missing when his mother took a nap at around 1 p.m. local time on Nov. 9, according to the sheriff’s office. When she awoke around 5:30 p.m., she couldn’t find him.
According to a missing person report released by the sheriff’s office, Joshua was described as about 3 feet, 6 inches tall, weighing between 50 and 60 lbs. with brown, shoulder-length hair and brown eyes.
Per the report, he responded to “Josh” or “Joshie,” although he “may not respond when called to.”
Missing 5-Year-Old Boy with Autism Found Dead in Pond Near Home: ‘A Nightmare’
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Coos County Sheriff’s Office. Coos County Sheriff’s Office Facebook
Early on in the search, authorities confirmed that “some clues were found,” but noted “nothing definitive” was located. Aerial support and K-9 resources had also been used in an attempt to locate Joshua.
The sheriff’s office said on Tuesday that deputies and volunteers “continued the search and rescue operation” for Joshua on Monday, Nov. 11. Several members of local fire departments and additional assistance joined “from several counties within Oregon and California” before they found the boy the next day.
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“The areas that have been searched have been very thorough and methodical due to the circumstances behind the disappearance,” the sheriff’s office wrote. “We have had amazing support from the community in feeding all of these volunteers.”
The investigation is ongoing.
