New Orleans, La. – A tragic discovery has brought heartbreaking closure to the search for 12-year-old Bryan Vasquez, a nonverbal boy whose disappearance earlier this month sparked a citywide search. Officials say he drowned after suffering blunt force trauma from an alligator attack in the city’s Michoud neighborhood.
Body Recovered in Lagoon
New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick confirmed Wednesday that Vasquez’s body was found in a lagoon in Michoud. The investigation into his death remains “unclassified,” and officials say more details will be released as evidence is processed.
“Something’s not right here,” Kirkpatrick said of the events surrounding Vasquez’s disappearance and death.
Timeline of Disappearance
Vasquez was last seen around 5 a.m. on Aug. 14, after leaving his bedroom window, according to family members. Less than an hour later, security video showed him wandering nearby wearing only an adult diaper.
The family described him as having a neurodevelopmental condition and being unable to understand English or Spanish, which complicated the search effort.
911 Response Under Scrutiny
The case has drawn criticism after it was revealed that authorities did not respond to a 911 call for five hours following Vasquez’s disappearance. Kirkpatrick said she immediately ordered an internal affairs investigation into the delay…