BY KEITH EPPS
An 11-year-old boy with autism drowned Monday afternoon after he slipped out of his home unnoticed and ended up in a stormwater retention pond, police said.
Stafford County Sheriff's Office spokesman Bill Kennedy said the tragic incident occurred about 4:45 p.m. in Somerset Landing subdivision east of U.S. 1 north of Stafford Courthouse.
The boy had been in his home in the area of Landmark and Snow drives when someone noticed that he was missing.
Kennedy said he wasn't sure how long the boy had been gone or how deep the water was in the pond.
His mother went out to look for him and saw the child in the pond, which is in the same neighborhood.
A man who was walking his dog saw the woman in distress and came to assist. He helped her get the child out of the water and began CPR as Deputy Antwon Leonard arrived.
Leonard and other deputies took turns performing CPR until rescue workers came and took the boy to Stafford Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Kennedy said his office will release no other information.
"It's a terrible tragedy, and we are saddened to have to release this information," Kennedy said. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family."
Keith Epps: 540/374-5404
Email: kepps@freelancestar.com