Chief: Child's body found amid search for missing Colorado boy David Puckett, 6

AURORA, Colo. -- Police in the Denver suburb of Aurora say they have found a child’s body amid a search for a 6-year-old boy who is believed to have wandered away from his home on New Year’s Eve.

Late Monday afternoon, authorities issued an Amber Alert for David Puckett. Over 150 law enforcement personnel from a variety of agencies including the FBI, Aurora Police and Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, along with more than 200 volunteers, joined the search, said Aurora Police Chief Nicholas Metz.

Tuesday, Metz said, crews discovered a child’s body in an iced-over pond.

The body remains unidentified, according to Metz, but he said Puckett’s family has been notified.

“I have the very unfortunate news of letting you know … we found the body of what appears to be a child, inside the pond, underneath the ice,” Metz said.

Before the grim discovery, police said foul play isn’t suspected, but asked for help to find David as quickly as possible partly because of coming cold weather.  Police said David had wandered off before. Metz said authorities are treating the pond as a crime scene to ensure a throrough investigation.

His mother said he was only wearing a light jacket. On Sunday night, she issued a tearful appeal for people to help find him.

Metz said it could take time to confirm the body’s identity.

In:
• Colorado