SOUTH FULTON, Ga. — It’s a heartbreaking end to the search for 6-year-old John Ross.
His body was discovered in a pond at the Meadow Springs apartment complex.
Police told Channel 2’s Susan Hendricks the boy had a developmental disability and was nonverbal.
Channel 2 Action News first reported about the child’s disappearance on WSB Tonight at 11 p.m. Saturday.
“Just a sweet child beautiful smile, that’s what I’m going to remember the most is his smile,” Donna Vaughn said.
Friends and neighbors who spent hours searching for John are remembering the sweet boy who they got to know when he spent time at the Meadow Springs apartment complex visiting his dad.
“His dad was taking great care of him. His dad loved him,” said Takyla Jackson, who lives next to the boy’s father.
The search that started Saturday continued this morning. Multiple agencies, including Georgia Search and Rescue and Fayette joined forces in looking for the boy.
“The drone was up last night. They came back this morning. Our dive team, of course,” Clayton County Police Department Capt. Nicholas Gailey.
The Clayton County dive team searched a pond for the 6-year-old boy. Then the Butts County dive team took over and made the grim discovery.
“I wish it was a different outcome,” Gailey said. “I wish he would come out from the apartment complex and say, ‘I’m here.’”
Now those who spent hours searching for John are sending their love and support to the parents.
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