PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. —
UPDATE · March 28 | In a tragic turn of events, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said the body of 1-year-old Jose Lara has been found.
Sheriff DeLoach said the boy’s body was found in a septic tank on the family’s property in what appears to be an accidental fall. The septic tank, just 40 yards from the home, was covered with rotting plywood, and investigators believe the boy fell in after wandering away.
PCSO said the case is still an active investigation but there is no foul play is suspected at this time.
“This was certainly the worst possible case scenario as far as outcome,” DeLoach said. “These things happen in just a blink of an eye. And it’s terribly unfortunate what’s happened here but it serves as a reminder to all of us who have children that are parents that there’s never an opportunity to leave them unsupervised.”
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The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office continues the desperate search for 1-year-old Jose Lara, who was reported missing Sunday afternoon after disappearing from his family’s backyard.
Deputies said the boy was last seen in the 2900 block of U.S. Highway 17 South, near the Volusia County line, in Crescent City.
The sheriff’s office said Jose was playing outside with his sister, when Jose’s mother briefly took his sister inside to clean her up. When she came back outside, her son was gone.
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Investigators are currently searching the area using bloodhounds and aviation assets to locate the missing child. Drones, helicopters and night-vision tools are also being used in the search.
Jose was last seen wearing a blue shirt, blue jeans, and blue shoes. The child speaks both Spanish and English.
Deputies said a toy truck that the child often plays with was found near the woods behind the family home on Sunday.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement issued a missing child alert Sunday afternoon.
The sheriff’s office gave an update on the search at 8 a.m. Monday. During the news conference, investigators said they did not come across any significant leads in the case overnight.
Multiple agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, are assisting in the case.
A dive team is also on standby for a nearby swamp.
“It’s probably not going to be a dive operation like you would normally see. It will be more of divers wading through the water if it gets to that point because it’s just very swampy,” Colonel Joseph Wells, chief deputy for PCSO, said.
Wells said one of the biggest concerns for a 1-year-old in the rural area is wildlife.
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“Our search crews can expect everything from alligators, snakes and other wildlife in this area,” Wells said.
Authorities said they have interviewed family members and have not identified any red flags in their statements.
The sheriff’s office is asking for the community to keep a close eye out for the toddler.
At this time, deputies are not asking for volunteers in the search for the boy.
An Amber Alert has not been issued as deputies said there is no evidence to suggest any criminal activity at this time.
If you have any information about the missing child, alert 911 or the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office: (386)-329-0800.
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This is a developing story, with this page being updated when new information is released.
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