Missing 7-year-old found dead in river

WESTERNPORT, MD (LOOTPRESS) – Tragedy struck on Monday, September 2, 2024, when a 7-year-old girl with autism was found dead after going missing from her residence near Westernport Road in Allegany County, Maryland.

The Allegany County 911 Dispatch Center received a distress call at approximately 1:41 PM, reporting that the child had been missing for about 10 minutes.

According to the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office, they immediately launched an emergency response, with assistance from multiple allied agencies.

The search efforts included the Maryland State Police and Trooper 5, Maryland Natural Resource Police, Cumberland City Police Department, Mountain Maryland Search and Rescue, Allegany County Department of Emergency Services, Tri-towns EMS, Potomac Fire Company, Bloomington Fire Department, Bowling Green Fire Department, Cresaptown Fire Department and EMS, Allegany County Special Ops, Keyser EMS, and Keyser Fire Department.

While a Cumberland City Police K9 Unit was tracking along the river, Maryland State Police Trooper 5 spotted an unconscious individual in the North Branch of the Potomac River.

Deputies and a medic from Trooper 5 quickly responded, entering the river and rescuing the child, who was identified as the missing girl.

She was brought to the riverbank where first responders, including Sheriff’s Deputies, the Trooper 5 medic, and NRP Officers, immediately began CPR.

The rescue operation was hampered by challenging terrain and environmental hazards, which led to several responders being hospitalized due to bee stings and other injuries.

Despite prolonged emergency medical efforts, the child was pronounced dead at the scene.

The incident is currently under investigation by the Medical Examiner’s Office, the C3I Unit, and Child Protective Services.