Body Of Missing 7-Year-Old Lowell Girl Found: DA

LOWELL, MA — Police have recovered a body they believe to be a 7-year-old girl who went missing Sunday afternoon in Lowell, according to Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan. Anna, 7, of Lowell, was last seen Sunday between 2 and 3 p.m. in the area of East Merrimack Street in the Belvidere neighborhood.

Divers located the body believed to be Anna's at around noon in the Merrimack River, Ryan said. Her body was found 15 to 20 yards from the shore in about 8 to 9 feet of water in Tewksbury. The river is higher than normal due to rain and is moving very fast at roughly 4 mph, according to Ryan.

Anna was on the autism spectrum and was non-verbal, according to police.

A search by Lowell police continued overnight into Monday, and regional search teams rejoined the effort on Monday morning.

Ryan said that investigators believe the incident was "a tragic accident" and that there were no signs of trauma.

The search included the use of drones and reviewing security footage from neighbors, along with numerous law enforcement agencies.

Ryan said "literally hundreds of people" came out to assist with the search.

A cause of death will be determined by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.