Two young boys, aged 3 and 5, were found deceased Sunday in a retention pond located near the Clyde Morris Landing Apartments in Daytona Beach, Florida. Daytona Beach Police Chief Jabari Young stated Monday that the deaths appear to be a "tragic accident." The incident has prompted an ongoing investigation, with all gathered information being forwarded to the State Attorney's Office for review. Chief Young indicated that, based on preliminary findings, there are no obvious signs of foul play associated with the deaths.
According to Chief Young, the heartbreaking sequence of events unfolded Sunday evening. The boys' single mother reported that she had put out lunch for them around 5 p.m. and then took a brief nap. Approximately 15 minutes later, upon waking, she discovered that both children and their dog had left the apartment. The door of the apartment was equipped with a child safety lock, a detail noted by Chief Young during his statement to the public.
Further clarity on the timeline was provided by surveillance video from the area, which police obtained. The footage captured the children playing near the retention pond at approximately 5:57 p.m. Just five minutes later, at about 6:02 p.m., the 5-year-old boy became submerged in the water. The video then showed the 3-year-old boy going under the water at approximately 6:03 p.m., a minute after his older brother. The mother could then be seen on the video searching for her children and the dog at 6:06 p.m., just three minutes after the younger child submerged.
The 911 call from the mother was received by police at 6:19 p.m. Chief Young highlighted the delay between the events captured on video and the time authorities were notified. He conveyed the gravity of the situation by stating that the children had already been submerged in the water for several minutes before the police were alerted to the incident. This timeline underscores the rapid and unforeseen nature of the tragedy.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the boys' deaths remains active. All evidence and findings gathered by the Daytona Beach Police Department have been transmitted to the State Attorney’s Office, which will continue to review the case. Chief Young reassured the public that, as of the current stage of the investigation, there is no evidence suggesting any criminal intent. He reiterated that, based on what is known from the investigation, there were no obvious indications of foul play. The community continues to await further information as the review progresses.