Missing 3-year-old autistic boy found dead, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office says

PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. — UPDATED STORY: ‘Tragic year for drowning:’ Community mourning autistic 3-year-old found dead in Dunns Creek

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said a missing 3-year-old autistic boy was found dead Tuesday afternoon.

Deputies were searching for the boy, named Gabriel, in the 200 block of Clearwater Road in Satsuma.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

PCSO said Gabriel was last seen wearing a green plaid T-shirt and green Minecraft shorts at his home.

Family looked for Gabriel for about 20 minutes before calling deputies around 3:30 p.m.

PCSO said its marine unit and K9 team were searching for Gabriel, who was found in the water near a dock close to his home.

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Deputies are currently investigating Gabriel’s death, but no foul play is suspected at this time.

“At this time we ask for you to say a prayer for the family,” Sheriff HD “Gator” DeLoach said in a statement on the PCSO Facebook page. “No family should undergo the tragedy of losing their child and we ask for comfort from our community to support them as they navigate the difficult journey ahead.”

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.