Body of missing 6-year-old autistic boy found in lake, police say

Township of WEST CHESTER, Ohio (WXIX/Gray News ) – Public safety officials in Ohio have recovered the body of a 6-year-old boy who was reported missing Wednesday.

West Chester Township Police and Fire Leaders announced late Thursday the night Joshua Al-Lateef’s body was found in a lake

“All of Butler County public safety tonight is grieving with the family and we wish and pray for the family to move on,” West Chester Township Fire Chief Rick Prinz said.

Joshua, who would have turned 7 next week, was last seen around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday near his family’s apartment on Wyndtree Drive, police said.

His older brother called 911 to report the child missing, according to a recording of the 911 call.

Hundreds of volunteers checked tree lines, dumpsters and anywhere else the boy might have sought shelter from the cold weather. First responders had drones in the air and boots on the ground.

Before the boy’s body was discovered, Prinz suggested the possibility that Joshua, who makes it official said he was autistic, had an attraction to water that may have led him to one of the many retention ponds on the property of the apartment complex where he lived.

“They lay out the lake in a grid pattern and search each grid very methodically, so there are teams physically in the water and on the water with boats,” Prinz said.

Lindsay Amyx was among the volunteers who helped. She said as a mother, she felt she had to help with the search.

“I have two children and to know what this mother is going through. I have a 19-year-old son and he’s also autistic, so I feel it in my heart knowing it’s cold outside,” Amyx said. “I just want to help him and his family.”

Police said earlier Thursday they had no reason to suspect foul play was involved, but the investigation was still ongoing.