A lacking 12-year-old boy with autism, whose physique was found in a New Orleans canal following a virtually two-week-long search, died from “blunt power attributable to an alligator” and drowning, police mentioned Wednesday.
Bryan Vasquez was first reported lacking on the morning of Aug. 14, after he reportedly escaped by means of a bed room window within the East facet of town, the New Orleans Police Division mentioned. The nonverbal boy was seen on doorbell digicam footage, carrying solely a diaper and strolling down the road alone, round 5:20 a.m. that morning. His physique was discovered on Tuesday, situated by a drone.
The boy’s mom, Hilda Vasquez, had advised The New Orleans Advocate/The Occasions-Picayune that her son would usually sneak away from their residence to go to a playground close by. Nonetheless, they’d lately moved to a brand new home.
Bryan’s disappearance prompted a large search that included a number of businesses, volunteers, airboats and bloodhounds.
As native and state crews combed the world, criticism mounted over the New Orleans Police Division’s delayed response. Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick mentioned that there was a virtually five-hour hole between when the boy was reported lacking and an officer arriving on the scene.
Kirkpatrick mentioned the police division has launched an inner investigation into the lapse.
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Mates, neighbors, and volunteers collect close to right here 12-year-old Bryan Vasquez was discovered lifeless in a canal, again middle, Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, in New Orleans East. (Chris Granger/The Occasions-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate through AP)
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Mates, neighbors, and volunteers collect close to right here 12-year-old Bryan Vasquez was discovered lifeless in a canal, again middle, Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, in New Orleans East. (Chris Granger/The Occasions-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate through AP)
A coroner’s post-mortem decided that Bryan drowned after he sustained trauma from an alligator, Kirkpatrick mentioned at a information convention on Wednesday. The boy was discovered about 200 yards from the place the search had began. Kirkpatrick mentioned it’s doable his physique resurfaced after he died, which is widespread in drowning deaths.
“Bryan was a vibrant, charismatic, and energetic younger boy whose pleasure and spirit touched the lives of his household, buddies and group,” metropolis officers mentioned in a press launch.
Kirkpatrick mentioned she has requested the Louisiana Division of Wildlife and Fisheries to take away “nuisance” alligators from the world the place Bryan was discovered.
In accordance with the wildlife company, hunters seize and take away greater than 1,000 nuisance alligators yearly in an effort to reduce encounters between the alligators and people. Louisiana is residence to the biggest alligator inhabitants within the nation.
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