The body of 6-year-old Fawzan Hassan was found in a pond at Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg at 5:25 p.m., according to Shiera Goff, spokesperson for the Montgomery County Police.
“We have been hoping for a different outcome,” she said.
Numerous police and rescue personnel as well as community members and other volunteers combed the area since the young boy, who was autistic and nonverbal, was reported missing at about 3 p.m. on Saturday. He was at the park when he went missing.
Community members on Sunday saw a body in the pond and contacted police, who then recovered it and positively identified it as Fawzan.
His body will be autopsied by the Maryland Medical Examiner’s office. They will try to determine how long he was in the water and how he died.
During the search, which lasted almost 27 hours, residents were asked to check their property, especially under porches and decks, in swimming pools, unlocked cars and nearby playgrounds. They also were asked to review home surveillance videos.
His family has been notified, and Goff urged everyone to respect their privacy.
Montgomery County Police, Maryland National Capital Park Police, Gaithersburg Police, Maryland State Police, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services and Midatlantic Dog Search and Rescue all combed the area in hopes of finding the boy alive.
Rescue workers went out on the pond in boats several times. Divers were not used in part because of the abundance of snapping turtles and difficult terrain, according to police.
MCPD is actively searching for Fawzan Hassan, a 6-year-old who went missing on Saturday, July 27 while in Bohrer Park. https://t.co/Ky4hha2W1q#MIssingChild #MissingPerson pic.twitter.com/z8xqSokFvP
— Montgomery County Department of Police (@mcpnews) July 28, 2024
A really sad ending to this search. Thoughts are and will remain with the Hassan family. I cannot imagine their anguish. I also want to thank @mcpnews @mcfrs @ParkPolice @MDSP, volunteers, and residents who poured themselves into the search over the last 24+ hours. https://t.co/Y7DFamSLoC
— Earl Stoddard PhD, MPH, CEM (@EarlStoddard) July 28, 2024
Aerial View of search of ponds in Gaithersburg, MD MX @MyDronePro pic.twitter.com/WS3ARjSbsC pic.twitter.com/YT2ilxDxM1
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 28, 2024
