A heartbreaking incident unfolded in Charles County this past Sunday as a 5-year-old boy with autism was found deceased after vanishing from his residence. The boy, Miles McMahon, who was non-verbal, was reported missing from a home in the Bannister neighborhood of Waldorf, according to the local Sheriff’s Office.
Miles was last seen around 11 a.m. near his home on St. Pauls Drive. Security camera footage captured him playing in the front yard before his disappearance. After an exhaustive search, his family contacted the authorities, prompting a large-scale search operation.
Charles County officers quickly set up a perimeter and concentrated their search efforts on nearby bodies of water, deeply troubled by Miles’ disappearance. They urged residents to inspect their properties, including swimming pools and potential hiding places, and to examine any security footage for signs of the missing child.
The search operation was extensive, involving a drone team, Maryland State Police’s Trooper 2, and local officers from the La Plata Police and the Charles County Dive Team. K9 units and bloodhounds were also utilized in the hopes of finding the boy unharmed.
Regrettably, the Maryland State Police Dive Team discovered Miles’ body in a pond close to his home. The Sheriff’s Office conveyed the deep sorrow felt by all involved in a statement, sharing the tragic news and extending their condolences. They requested the community to remember Miles and his family in their thoughts and prayers.
Investigations are currently underway to unravel the events leading to this devastating outcome. More information will be disclosed as it becomes available.