New Kent, Va. - The body of a missing 8-year-old was found in the Pamunkey River early Monday morning, according to the Coast Guard.
“Unfortunately a body has been located in water and New Kent EMS has pronounced the victim deceased at this time. The Medical Examiners Office has been contacted and arrangements are in process to have the body transported,” New Kent Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Joe McLaughlin said. “The family was on site at the time of the recovery. The body was located by Coast Guard personnel."
According to the New Kent Sheriff's Office, crews began searching around 5:00 p.m. Sunday.
They had received an emergency call indicating one person was in the water and another was unaccounted for in Mill Creek just off of the Pamunkey River at the Eltham Bridge. That's on Route 33 at the New Kent - West Point border.
Emergency crews pulled an adult from the water but were not able to find the second person, reported to be a child.
According to WTVR, the boy has been identified as 8-year-old Joel Martinez.
A Coast Guard helicopter as well as divers spent the night searching but finally had to stop for the night.
The Coast Guard confirmed Monday that two Station Milford Haven crew members on an 18-foot good Samaritan vessel found the body of the missing boy early Monday morning.
New information will be posted as it becomes available.
