ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – The body of a missing 4-year-old boy was recovered Sunday night by the Volusia County Dive Team in the Ormond Beach park where he went missing earlier in the day.
News4JAX sister station WKMG spoke with Waylon Childs' grandparents Sunday afternoon during the search, and they confirmed that Waylon had autism and was non-verbal.
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Officers first responded to a report of a missing child at Central Park off Fleming Avenue shortly before noon on Sunday, according to Jesse Godfrey, chief of the Ormond Beach Police Department.
Waylon’s father was at the park with Waylon and his two other children, both also under age 5, when Waylon went missing.
The Ormond Beach Police Department, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Volusia Sheriff’s Office, and local law enforcement from neighboring cities searched throughout the day, and Waylon’s body was recovered at 9:02 p.m.
“This is a heartbreaking tragedy, and our hearts are with Waylon’s family during this unimaginable loss,” Godfrey said. “We would like to thank the community and all the agencies involved for their support and efforts during this search. The Ormond Beach Police Department remains committed to standing with the family and our community in the days ahead.”