PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. – After a nearly five-hour search, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said the missing autistic 4-year-old boy, who wandered from his Putnam County home, was found dead in the St. Johns River on Thursday.
Deputies immediately launched an all-hands-on-deck approach to search for Mason Newstead who was last seen leaving his home on Front Street in Welaka.
The sheriff’s office said the child left the house around 12:30 p.m.
Col. Joe Wells said Ring camera footage showed the non-verbal child heading toward the water, which initiated the search of the St. Johns River.
“We had Ring camera evidence and that camera evidence indicated that he was headed towards the water sometime very shortly after he went missing. We don’t believe it was too long. He may have been in the water before we were notified,” Wells said.
His body was found near some docks along the river around 5:20 p.m., according to Wells.
The PCSO had the bloodhound and dive team, marine unit and deputies from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office assisting in the search for the child.
“We’ve had Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office and St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office along with Putnam County Fire Rescue involved in various ways,” Wells said. “Whether it was through bloodhound assistance, aviation, additional divers, you name it, but certainly don’t want to forget our main partners that we work with on the river, which is the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. So it’s been a multi-agency investigation.”
Wells said during the search, there was an outpouring of support from other law enforcement agencies looking for ways to assist their efforts.
Wells said the investigation will continue to learn more about the circumstances surrounding the child going missing.
Wells also said that there is “zero indication of any type of neglect or criminal activity.”
Newstead’s parents were notified and the Welaka Mayor Jamie Watts is arranging for a local pastor to support the family in their time of need.
“I just want the community to give this family some space, but certainly keep them in your prayers as they have a lot of healing and coming to grips to deal with in the coming days,” Watts said.
The news of Newstead’s tragic death shocked the Welaka community, which consists of 950 residents, according to the mayor.
“The community is very small, very close-knit and everybody’s hurting,” Watts said. “Not as much as the family obviously, everybody’s hurting.”
“I just think it’s unfortunate, and it’s horrible that these things happen,” Estella Fransbergen said.
Kathy Washington said she was praying for a better outcome.
“We have to accept what we have to accept. We will still be here for the family. So, we want them to know that they are not alone. We are crying with them,” Washington said.