NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – The New Orleans Police Department has launched an investigation into the death of 12-year-old Bryan Vasquez, after a body believed to be his was found Tuesday (Aug. 26) in a New Orleans East lagoon, 12 days after he was reported missing.
Remains believed to be the nonverbal autistic boy’s surfaced in water not far from where his family reported him missing on Aug. 14. The Orleans Parish Coroner’s office will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
“This is indeed a profoundly sad day, but a day for some closure,” New Orleans police Supt. Anne Kirkpatrick said. “There are many people grieving, including the family.”
According to Kirkpatrick, members of the United Cajun Navy discovered the body with the aid of a thermal drone.
Police said the boy’s body was about 200 yards from where he likely entered the lagoon near his home. Louisiana State Police troopers, as well NOPD officers and federal agents, had walked door-to-door in the neighborhood, searching for video and any other clues.
The United Cajun Navy said volunteers with their organization brought in search dogs from five different states, as well as boats equipped with sonar to canvass the area.
“We knew that the dogs were hitting in several areas. We just never could recover. We knew time was getting to the point where we might be able to find him,” said Todd Terrell with the United Cajun Navy. “We told the mother we were going to stay here until we thought we needed to go home.”
Police also credited support from the Louisiana State Police, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, several parish sheriff’s offices, and numerous community groups.
