Missing Child With Autism Dies, Officers Find Him In Water: Baltimore County Police

DUNDALK, MD — A child died Friday after he went missing in Dundalk, police announced. Officers said they found him in a waterway.

Authorities identified the boy as 6-year-old Marcel Traore.

Police said Traore had autism and was non-verbal.

Officers from the Dundalk Precinct said they were called Friday around 7 a.m. and alerted of the missing child at risk.

Authorities said they obtained a description of the boy's clothing and immediately started searching areas he visited frequently.

The Baltimore County Police Department said it expanded the search and deployed its marine, aviation, K9 units and dive team.

Officers said they searched the waters of Lynch Cove while land-based units went house to house looking for places a child may hide.

Authorities said they found the victim in the waters of Lynch Cove around 11:30 a.m.

Medics took Traore to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, a press release said.

"This tragic incident underscores the importance of water safety for children, especially with the warm weather that is currently impacting the region," the Baltimore County Police Department said in the release. "The Baltimore County Police Department wants to remind residents that it only takes a second for a child to go under. Please provide constant supervision, whether at a pool or near a body of water."

This map shows the area where officers said they found Traore.