Heartbreaking discovery made in pond during hunt for missing, non-verbal autistic DC boy aged six

The search for a missing six-year-old non-verbal autistic boy from Washington DC has ended in tragedy after his body was found in a pond.

Fawzan Hassan was last seen around 3pm on Saturday near the playground at Bohrer Park located in Gaithersburg, Maryland on the same day a picnic event was held by members of the Ethiopian community. His family were among those in attendance.  

Montgomery County Police announced at a news conference on Sunday evening, that the body was discovered in the pond around 5.30pm by a group of volunteers.

Police and fire departments and the Maryland National Capital Police searched overnight for the missing youngster. Drones had been used but due to snapping turtles in the pond divers were not deployed, officials said.

The Montgomery Police said the pond had been searched twice but at the time the boy's body did not surface, as per a news release. 

Residents in the area were urged to check around their property, including under porches and decks, swimming pools, outbuildings, unlocked cars, and nearby playgrounds.

They were also asked to review any home surveillance videos. 

The boy's distraught mother told the news outlet that the boy's grandmother was watching Hassan at the park during an event held by the Ethiopian community. She said Hassan' grandmother went to look for his sister and when she returned Hassan was gone. 

Azeb Adere with the Ethiopian Eritrean Special Needs Community, who helped organize the search, called the tragedy 'a sad day for the community.' 

She said there are many questions to why Hassan was not  found sooner and was heartbroken for the family but told the news outlet that will have to wait. 

'I am so sorry for the parents,' Adere said. 'I feel so bad and for communities to learn this so it doesn't happen to another child.'

Montgomery County Police Lieutenant Kristina Hedgepeth explained with certainty that the search for Hassan was thorough, local NBC4 Washington reported. 

'What's underneath, we don't know and how it can affect our instruments and reading signals and things like that,' she said. So I think that's what a lot of it had to do with, not that anyone missed a spot. Everything was gone over very thoroughly.' 

A parent herself, Hedgepeth urged other parents the importance of staying vigilant. 

'It's a tough thing to say to anyone in this situation, but I just know as a parent myself, your head's gotta be on a swivel,' Hedgepeth told the news outlet. 

'You have to constantly be watching and it's even harder when you have a child with special needs.'

Before Hassan's body was found, officials urged those helping in the search on how to approach a non-verbal autistic child which includes' using visual signals or familiar objects to get their attention.'

'Please call 911 right away. It is important to approach them calmly and slowly. Avoid making sudden movements or loud noises that might startle them,' as per a news release.

'Speak in a gentle, reassuring tone, even if the child does not respond verbally. Non-verbal autistic children might not respond to their name. Most importantly, ensure the child’s safety and wait for police to arrive.'

Officials said no foul play has been suspected in the youngster's death. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.