5-Year-Old West Palm Beach Boy Was Found Dead Hours After Being Reported Missing

West Palm Beach deputies found 5-year-old Dahud Jolicoeur dead on Sunday after he went missing from his house the previous day.

He was discovered around 1 a.m. in a waterway a block away from his Wood Glen Circle home near Royal Palm Beach. According to Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Teri Barbera, Jolicoeur had autism, was nonverbal and didn’t know how to swim.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement stated that it was possible he could’ve drowned, but it hasn’t been confirmed.

Around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, the FDLE issued a Missing Child Alert for Jolicoeur, stating he was last seen on the 9200 block of Nugent Trail, wearing a white long-sleeved shirt and gray shorts.

🚨#MissingChild🚨 Has anyone seen 5 year old Dahud Jolicoeur? Dahud is autistic, non-verbal and cannot swim. He was last seen in the 9200 block of Nugent Trail.

Dahud was last seen wearing a white long-sleeve shirt and gray shorts. PLEASE keep an eye out for this child! pic.twitter.com/bAPvKVB0Q7

— PBSO (@PBCountySheriff) September 10, 2022

The Marines, Emergency Field Force Team, search and rescue dogs, Palm Beach deputies, and community members came together to search for the 5-year-old.

After finding him, an alert was sent informing people that the search had ended and that Jolicoeur was found dead.

The Florida Missing Child Alert for Dahud Jolicoeur has been cancelled. It is with sadness that we report the child was found deceased from a possible drowning. We extend our condolences to Dahud’s family, friends and the Palm Beach County community. Palm Beach Co. SO for info. pic.twitter.com/rTgDt4duqP

— FDLE (@fdlepio) September 11, 2022

“We are so incredibly saddened to announce that we found Dahud,” the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement, asking for those to “keep the Jolicoeur family in [their] thoughts and prayers.”

We are so incredibly saddened to announce that we found Dahud. He was located in a waterway deceased a block of so from the home.

Please keep the Jolicoeur family in your thoughts and prayers. 💔 https://t.co/UZDF0rZXUi

— PBSO (@PBCountySheriff) September 11, 2022