Autistic boy, 4, who disappeared in South Boston is found dead, authorities say

The body of a 4-year-old boy with autism who went missing over the weekend in South Boston was found Monday, according to Massachusetts state police.

Mohamed Fofana was found dead near the coastline of Castle Island just before 12:30 pm, state police said. Tweet.

Castle Island is at the northern end of Boston Beach overlooking Boston Harbor.

Authorities found the boy’s body on the coastline of Spectacle Island, across from Castle Island, state police said. The body is transferred to the chief coroner’s office.

The Suffolk County Police Criminal Division is investigating the death.

Authorities announced a search for Fofana on Sunday night. twitter.

State police said “potential reasons have not been ruled out at this time” for the boy’s disappearance.

Marines and diving teams from multiple law enforcement and public safety agencies Monday searched the area known as the Western Way, which connects Dorchester Bay in the south and the Boston Main Line in the north, state police said.

Sidescan sonar was deployed on three boats to provide sonar imagery of the ocean floor. State police said they were investigating whether divers detected anomalies with sidescan sonar.

They also conducted an underwater search along the Castle Island seawall to a distance of 150 meters offshore, state police said.

The State Police Air Wing and the U.S. Coast Guard conducted an aerial search along the coastline and also conducted a drone search with the Boston Fire Department, state police said.

State police said detectives examined the camera footage with the aim of identifying possible routes Mohamed might take from the playground area.

Marines, a diving team and an air wing also participated in Sunday’s search, state police said. The Boston Police Department, Fire Department, Emergency Medical Services, and the Massachusetts Environmental Police also assisted.

Fofana was playing in a coastal park around 7 p.m. Sunday, state police said. An adult family member was with the boy when his relatives lost him.

The relative reported the boy missing around 7:30 p.m. and called 911, state police said.

The boy’s mother, Mantenjay Fofana, said the boy was with his grandfather and sister when he disappeared, NBC Boston reported. She also said he was autistic and nonverbal. The news station said the boy had a tendency to wander.

“Yesterday they came to the playground with Grandpa,” Mantenjay Fofana told NBC Boston before authorities announced the boy’s body was found. “He called me and said, ‘He has met your daughter, but he has not met Mohammed.'”