Missing 6-Year-Old Boy with Autism Found Dead in Maryland Pond Following Massive Overnight Search

Fawzan Hassan went missing on Saturday, July 27 while at Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg with his family

<p>Montgomery County Police Department</p> Fawzan Hassan

Montgomery County Police Department

Fawzan Hassan

Fawzan Hassan, a 6-year-old boy from Maryland, has been found dead in a Maryland pond after a 26-hour search.

According to a press release from the Montgomery County Police Department, the child, who is non-verbal and has autism, was last seen in Bohrer Park, Gaithersburg, on Saturday, July 27 at 3 p.m.

Local news outlet DC News Now reported that Hassan attended a community event with his parents at the park.

About 25 minutes later, his family began searching for him at the playground, however, they couldn't find him. They called police and officers from Gaithersburg and Montgomery County were on site immediately. Over 100 police officers, firefighters and volunteers helped search for Hassan, according to The Washington Post,

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Maryland National Capital Police - Montgomery County also assisted in the search by deploying drones while search teams worked overnight to find the child, police said in their release.

Related: Decomposing Body Discovered in California After Dog Finds Head and Carries It onto Sidewalk: Reports

<p>Montgomery County Police Department</p> Fawzan Hassan

Montgomery County Police Department

Fawzan Hassan

On Sunday, July 28, police shared that Hassan's body was recovered around 5:25 p.m. in a pond at Bohrer Park.

The remains will be transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner "to determine the exact cause of death."

Neal Nightingale, who found Hassan's body, told DC News Now, “It’s kind of shocking."

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"I did not expect to show up here, and then, you know, see… the kid in the water,” said Nightingale, who is the father of a 6-year-old girl with autism.

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“Our hearts go out to the family,” Montgomery County Police spokeswoman Shiera Goff, said on July 28 following the search, as per The Washington Post. “We all had been hoping for a different outcome.”

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