Police: Teen's Body Found In Pond
2 Of 3 Children Made It Out Of Water; Good Samaritan Hospitalized
POSTED: Monday, November 30, 2009
UPDATED: 10:55 pm EST November 30,
2009
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Police said they found the body of a 16-year-old boy who went missing in a pond Monday afternoon at an apartment complex off Losco Road.
After hours of searching, officers confirmed at about 8:30 p.m. that Bobby Connell drowned in the water next to the Woodbridge at the Lake apartments after he went missing at about 2 p.m. Jacksonville Sheriff's Office divers said they located the teen's body using sonar equipment.
Police said three teens had stolen a Jon boat from across the pond when they realized they were about to get caught. Investigators said the teens couldn't move the boat, so they all jumped out and tried to swim away.
Two of the juveniles made it to shore by themselves, but two good Samaritans who saw the third still in the water jumped in to try and help.
"One of them swam about halfway out to where the one juvenile who was struggling appeared to be before the good Samaritan was overcome," Jacksonville Fire-Rescue spokesman Tom Francis said.
An off-duty firefighter then jumped in and rescued the adult from the water. He was transported to Baptist-South Medical Center for treatment.
Of the two rescued, one ran from the scene and the other was questioned by homicide detectives who responded to the scene.
At 5 p.m., a helicopter was hovering overhead, boats were in the water and a dive team was preparing to go join the search.
Mary Sefender said she saw a boy in the water screaming for help.
"I did see him in the middle of the lake, and the irony of it all was I knew he wasn't going to make it," Sefender said. "He was in the middle of the lake screaming and the water was gurgling out of his voice the last time he yelled help. He went down and he never came back up."
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