Missing Child Found Dead In GA Pond

RIVERDALE, GA — A 6-year-old boy who disappeared from a Riverdale home was found dead in a pond Monday, police said.

Officers began searching for Ramon "RJ" Jett after he disappeared between 11:30 a.m. and noon Sunday in the 8000 block of Webb Road, Clayton County Police said.

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Jett disappeared around noon, and officers were notified around 2 p.m., Clayton County Police Maj. Frank Thomas told reporters at a news conference Monday.

Thomas surmised family members were searching for Jett in the estimated two-hour gap.

Multiple agencies from Clayton County and surrounding areas scoured nearby areas for Jett until midnight Sunday, when the search was called off due to darkness, Thomas said.

At 6 a.m. Monday, authorities continued the search and later located Jett around 9:15 a.m., the major said. The pond where Jett's body was found is about 125 yards from the home from which he disappeared.

Jett's mother told WXIA-TV that she and her son were visiting her oldest daughter to go swimming on Saturday and decided to spend the night. The next day, the mother left for work, and Jett reportedly stayed with his sister.

The family believes Jett disappeared while his siblings were napping, WAGA-TV reported. They reportedly awakened to find the front door open and Jett gone.

Jett's mother told reporters that they immediately began a search for her son.

An official cause of death has not been made public at this time.

"The Clayton County Police Department asks that everyone continue to keep RJ's family, friends and all those affected by this tragedy in their thoughts and prayers. We also ask that the public respect the family's privacy as they grieve," police said in a news release.