A body found on Saturday in a pond is likely that of a four-year-old North Carolina boy who disappeared several days ago, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
While assisting local authorities in the search for Raul Gonzalez Johnson, the FBI said a body was discovered in a pond off a road near the boy’s home in Laurinburg on Saturday afternoon.
The Scotland County Medical Examiner’s Office is currently working to confirm the identity and cause of death.
Authorities began draining the pond on Saturday, one day after the FBI took over the investigation.
The pond, located just 800 yards from Raul’s home, had been a top area of interest since three separate K9 units individually ‘took the same course’ from Raul’s home to the pond, Scotland County Sheriff Ralph Kersey said.
A body found on Saturday in a pond is likely that of missing four-year-old Raul Gonzalez Johnson (pictured, left and right) of Laurinburg, North Carolina, who disappeared on Wednesday
The Scotland County Medical Examiner’s Office is currently working to confirm the identity and cause of death (Pictured, Raul)
The pond (pictured), located just 800 yards from Raul’s home, had been a top area of interest since three separate K9 units individually ‘took the same course’ from Raul’s home to the pond, Scotland County Sheriff Ralph Kersey said
Authorities began draining the pond on Saturday, one day after the FBI took over the investigation
‘Sadly, investigators believe we have found the body of 4-year-old Raul Gonzalez Johnson in a pond off Peabridge Road,’ the FBI tweeted on Saturday.
‘We ask the media to be respectful & not go to the scene during the recovery process.’
Raul was last seen as he was being watched by his grandfather on Wednesday at his mobile home on Village Drive when he walked next door to visit one of his neighbors.
Authorities said Raul’s grandfather, Tim Johnson, was watching him at about 11am on Wednesday when he lost track of the boy.
When the grandfather couldn’t find Raul after about 20 minutes, he contacted police, and an Amber Alert was issued.
Raul was last seen as he was being watched by his grandfather at his mobile home on Village Drive (pictured) around 11am when he walked next door to visit one of his neighbors
The FBI’s Child Abduction Rapid Deployment Team, a group of highly-trained experts in the field of missing children, was assisting in the effort
The pond was drained after a dive team came up with nothing on Thursday.
The Scotland County Sheriff’s Office said on Friday that if Raul hadn’t been found authorities said the search would become a recovery mission.
At the time of his disappearance, he is said to have been wearing a white and orange striped shirt with tigers on it, along with white pants printed with rocket ships.
Raul was described as half-Native American and half-Hispanic, with black hair and brown eyes, standing about three feet tall and weighing 38 pounds.
Authorities said that this isn’t the first time that Raul had walked away from his home. He reportedly went missing for about 25 minutes on Tuesday.
At the time of Raul’s disappearance, he (pictured) is said to have been wearing a white and orange striped shirt with tigers on it, along with white pants printed with rocket ships
Authorities had said that if Raul (pictured) was not found on Friday, the search-and-rescue mission would turn into a recovery mission
Raul’s mother, Annie Johnson (pictured), told WRAL that she was trying to keep it together for the sake of her other children
Sheriff Kersey said that about 200 people had been searching for Raul both on the ground and in the air, while the dive team had been dispatched to the pond,WBTV reported on Thursday.
Additionally, the FBI’s Child Abduction Rapid Deployment Team, a group of highly-trained experts in the field of missing children, was assisting in the effort.
Raul’s sister, Cheyenne Johnson (left) and his aunt, Kasey Locklear, hold posters of him
About 200 people were involved in the search for Raul, which has involved people on the ground and in the air. K-9 and dive units were also employed in the search
Vivian Smiling (left) comforts Bonnie Bearden – Raul’s cousin – after Thursday’s press conference about Raul’s disappearance at the Stewartsville Volunteer Fire Department
Beginning on Friday, the Scotland County Sheriff’s Department, the FBI and SBI transitioned from a search-and-rescue effort into an ‘investigative approach’
Beginning on Friday, the Scotland County Sheriff’s Department, FBI and SBI will transition from a search-and-rescue effort into an ‘investigative approach.’
Raul’s mother, Annie Johnson, told WRAL that she was trying to keep it together for the sake of her other children.
‘I don’t know. I’m just trying to hold it in,’ she said. ‘I’m trying to stay positive that he’s still out there somewhere safe.’
Authorities do not currently believe that foul play was involved, based on the interviews they’ve conducted with Raul’s family members, neighbors or information that’s come in from the public.