JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The body of a missing boy was found Monday night as investigators searched a retention pond in a Northside neighborhood, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
A Florida Missing Child Alert was issued for 4-year-old Gavin Douyon shortly after 7:30 p.m. Police said he wandered off while playing outside with family members.
According to Assistant Chief Brian Kee, with the Sheriff’s Office, the boy was last seen around 5:30 p.m. on Chester Creek Road. Units were notified at approximately 6 p.m., and the boy’s body was located around 9:20 p.m.
“There’s no foul play. It appears to be a horrible accident,” Kee said.
Police said Gavin had autism and was nonverbal.
“We are very concerned about children with autism because they do have an attraction to retention ponds and bodies of water,” Kee said.
When asked if there were going to be any safety measures taken as a result of what happened, Kee said “that would be up to the property owner.”
According to Kee, the boy and his family are from out of state and were visiting friends in the neighborhood.
The assistant chief recalled a similar, unrelated incident in April when a missing 5-year-old Jacksonville boy, who had autism and was nonverbal, got out of his home. He was later found dead in a retention pond.
The 5-year-old’s death in April led members of Jacksonville City Council to call an emergency meeting, where they discussed ways to improve safety around retention ponds.
Note: A prior version of this story noted Gavin was 3 years old. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office made a correction, saying Gavin was 4, as was originally reported.