SUTTON, MASS. (WHDH) - A 4-year-old girl who was the subject of an extensive search in Sutton Thursday was pronounced dead at a local hospital after being found unresponsive in a neighbor’s pool, officials announced.
In an update Friday, the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office said police started their search near 3:50 p.m. Thursday afternoon after receiving a 911 call saying the girl, named Eva, went missing from her home. The DA’s office said authorities found her “a short time later.”
Sutton police first asked for the public’s help in a post on Facebook near 5:30 p.m. Thursday, saying they were searching in the area of Peachtree Drive
Sutton police said Eva was living with autism.
Police said there was a “heavy police and fire presence” related to the search and urged anyone who saw Eva to call 911. Police later called off their search near 7:30 p.m.
The Sutton Police Department shared a new statement shortly after the announcement from the DA’s office, saying “The past 12 hours have been incredibly difficult for one of our families in town and our team of first responders.”
Police said “there are no words” to ease the heartache residents are feeling.
“We are so incredibly sorry,” police said.
Speaking with 7NEWS on Thursday, area resident Jeff Cardin said the neighborhood where Eva went missing is tight knit.
“We all look out for each other,” he said. “You do what you got to do. It’s a little kid.”
Cardin was one of several people who joined the search for Eva, with some using ATVs to comb through wooded areas.
After hearing news of Eva’s death, many people in Sutton said they were praying for her family.
This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.
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