Missing 3-year-old boy found drowned in waterway close to home, sheriff’s office says

BUTLER COUNTY, Kan. (KWCH/Gray News) – Officials in Kansas said a 3-year-old boy who went missing was found drowned in a waterway close to a home Sunday morning.

The Butler County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to a location on SW Prairie Creek Road in Butler County at 7 p.m. Saturday after the boy was reported missing.

Due to the size of the property, which included trees and waterways, the sheriff’s office said multiple agencies assisted in the search for the boy.

According to initial reports, the child was playing outside a home on the property while an adult was outside doing yard work.

The boy then wandered off and disappeared but was believed to still be on the property.

A search of the area continued until about 3:15 a.m. Sunday.

After the search was resumed early Sunday morning, the boy was found in a nearby waterway around 7:30 a.m.

The Butler County Sheriff’s Office said the child accidentally drowned, but an autopsy will be done to determine the cause of death.

According to the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, there is no suspicion of foul play, and the child is a family member of the residents but not their child.

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