JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A 3-year-old girl with autism drowned Monday morning after leaving her Northside home and entering a nearby retention pond, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said.
Police response and investigation
Officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office responded just after 7:30 a.m. to the Waterside Townhomes at River City, a complex located near Max Leggett Parkway and Hyatt Road, just west of Main Street, after being notified of a missing autistic child. JSO said officers “immediately began searching the area and made a heartbreaking discovery a short time later.”
JSO’s Homicide Unit detectives and the Crime Scene Unit are handling the investigation to determine how the child was able to exit the residence and the precise circumstances surrounding the drowning. Police said foul play is not suspected at this time. The Medical Examiner’s Office and the Florida Department of Children and Families also are involved in the inquiry.
“This case is a tragic reminder of the dangers of water, especially for children with autism,” JSO said in a news release.
Context and local concerns
The sheriff’s office explicitly linked the incident to broader safety concerns for children with autism and water hazards. The agency noted a recent, separate drowning this month involving a 7-year-old autistic boy, Chace Brown, at a different pond on Jacksonville’s Northside. Those incidents have prompted conversations among city officials, first responders and families about prevention and protective measures in neighborhoods with retention ponds and other open water.
JSO released practical guidance for parents and caregivers aimed at reducing the risk of child drownings, particularly for children with disabilities:
- Block access to water: Use fencing, door and window alarms, locks and other barriers to prevent children from leaving unsupervised.
- Know what’s nearby: Survey your neighborhood for ponds, lakes, rivers and pools that could be accessible.
- Check water first: If a child is missing, contact 911 immediately and check nearby water sources as a priority.
- Teach water safety: Engage children in swimming lessons, including programs tailored for children with disabilities; Florida offers free swimming vouchers for eligible low-income families.
Who is investigating and how to share tips
Multiple local and state agencies are involved in the post-incident review. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has urged anyone with information to contact them directly. The avenues the sheriff’s office provided are:
| Agency / Contact | How to Reach |
|---|---|
| Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) | (904) 630-0500 |
| JSO Crime Tips | jsocrimetips@jaxsheriff.org |
| Crime Stoppers | 1 (866) 845-TIPS |
JSO and partner agencies have not released the child’s name. They did not provide additional details about how or when the child left the residence beyond saying officers began a search after the missing-person report and located the child “a short time later.”
Local reaction and next steps
The deaths of two young children with autism in separate pond drownings this month have renewed attention on neighborhood water safety in Jacksonville’s Northside communities. City and county leaders have previously discussed measures such as fencing around retention ponds and public awareness campaigns. JSO’s release did note the mayor’s office is exploring “potential policy solutions,” though no specific policy actions were detailed in the sheriff’s statement.
For now, investigators with the Homicide Unit and Crime Scene Unit continue their work alongside the Medical Examiner’s Office and the Florida Department of Children and Families to assemble a full account of the circumstances. Anyone with information is asked to use the contact methods listed above.
This report will be updated as authorities release more information.
