A missing 5-year-old boy was discovered dead in a Memphis apartment complex pond on Thursday, April 10, according to a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) social media post.
Kayden Nolen, a 5-year-old boy with autism, was reported missing around 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9, at the Residences at Lakeview Apartments in Memphis, Tennessee.
Lakevra Brounson, Nolen’s aunt, discovered him missing from the apartment after waking up from a nap, according to Fox 13. She explained that it was not uncommon for him to wander off, but he was usually found by family members.
On Wednesday, an endangered missing persons report was issued.
At 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, the Memphis Police Department announced on Facebook that his body had been found. Before the young boy’s body was discovered, the department searched for more than 19 hours by air, foot, and water.
“I’m just glad they found him as quickly as they did,” Nolen’s grandfather Benjamin Pace told Fox 13. “Pay attention to your children more. Watch out for them more. In the blink of an eye, your child could be gone. You’re never overprotective. You’re simply being protective enough.”
“Our hearts are broken,” the Memphis Police Department stated. “This is a tragedy that has impacted not only Kayden’s loved ones, but the entire community. The loss of a child is a pain that no family should ever have to go through, and we support Kayden’s family as they deal with this unimaginable heartbreak.
“Though the outcome is not what any of us had hoped for, your dedication and compassion will never be forgotten,” according to the statement. “As the family begins to process this terrible loss, we ask that their privacy be respected as they grieve.”
“We are keeping his family, friends and those who knew him in our hearts, and offer our most sincere condolences in their loss,” according to a statement from TBI.
A Memphis Police Department representative did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for more information on Thursday.
