The missing 7-year-old girl who'd been the subject of a massive search in Lowell, Massachusetts, is believed to have been found dead, officials said Monday.
The girl, Anna Mburu, was nonverbal and had autism. She was reported missing Sunday afternoon.
The body of a young child believed to be Anna was found in the Merrimack River in nearby Tewksbury just before noon, nearly 24 hours after the girl went missing, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said, calling the update heartbreaking. There were no apparent signs of foul play.
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The incident "appears to be nothing more, based on what we know now, than a tragic accident," Ryan said.
The search was conducted by land, sea and air. Police had asked that neighbors in Lowell's Belvidere neighborhood, and people in Tewksbury, search their yards, sheds and other places where a child might hide.
Officers went door-to-door Sunday looking for any doorbell camera video of the little girl. Police also used drones, police dogs, ATVs, and state police aircraft. Multiple fire department boats and a dive team were also searching in the nearby Merrimack River.
The girl's body was first detected through side-sonar scanner by a team on the river, which was flowing higher and faster than usual amid all the rain hitting New England. The body believed to be Anna's was found about 15-20 yards from shore and in roughly 8 or 9 feet of water, Ryan said.
The body had no obvious signs of trauma; Ryan said her office was awaiting a positive identification and determination of cause of death from medical examiners.
Anna's art teacher traveled down from New Hampshire to join the search for her student, whom she described as sweet and funny.
“First I thought maybe she’s just playing because she’s a funny little girl and she’s a runner, likes to run and hide, so hopefully that’s all that’s happening right now,” Lisa Labracque said before the announcement that a body was found.
Anna’s family pastor had recalled that he'd just seen her in church Sunday morning and said the family was "leaning on faith."
