Missing 8-year-old boy found dead in a pond hours after he disappeared from his home, police say

Add Us On GoogleAdd as a preferred source on Google

CELINA, Texas. (KWTX/Gray News) - An 8-year-old boy reported missing from his Texas home was found dead in a pond hours after he disappeared, police said.

Celina police said the family of MJ Ashmead alerted officers on Thursday just before 9:30 a.m. that the child was missing from their home.

Celina police and fire crews launched a large-scale search.

Celina police said the family of MJ Ashmead alerted officers just before 9:30 a.m. that the... — Celina police said the family of MJ Ashmead alerted officers just before 9:30 a.m. that the child was missing from their home.(Photo Courtesy Celina Police Department)

Police said just after noon Friday, family members were notified the boy’s body had been found in a pond near the subdivision.

Celina Police Officer John Thacker called the child’s death a tragedy.

“Let me be very clear. Police have no reason to believe that foul play is involved in this tragedy,” he said. “Celina is a growing community, but we are a very close-knit community. A tragic loss like this cuts to the core of who we are as a community, as neighbors and as first responders.”

The police department said it will not release additional details at this time out of respect for the family and because the investigation is ongoing.