8-year-old boy found dead after going missing from Wilkes County home

RONDA, N.C. (WGHP) — A boy reported missing on Tuesday has been found dead, according to officials.

According to Wilkes County EMS, they were searching for 8-year-old Zachariah “Zach” Walker, who left his Ronda home. According to EMS officials, he was found dead just after noon in a pond near his home.

“Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office is the primary agency for this search. Also helping is Ronda Fire Dept, Wilkes Rescue Squad, and Wilkes County Emergency Management. They also have neighbors helping in the search. They are trying to limit unnecessary foot traffic in the area with search underway,” a representative for Wilkes County EMS said.

Walker’s family says he was last seen Tuesday. He was described as severely autistic and non-verbal, according to his grandmother, who described him as a “happy child,” though he does not respond well to yelling and can run very quickly.

Ashe County Sheriff’s Office posted on its Facebook page that they sent three K-9 units to assist in the search.

The Jonesville Police Department held a prayer at the town hall’s flag pole at noon.

The sheriff’s office is still working with the family to determine how Walker ended up walking away from home.

Emergency services do not suspect foul play.

Nearly 30 agencies from Wilkes County and surrounding counties participated in the search along with personnel from state agencies.

“We want them to know and to feel like we were here in a positive way to support and come to a positive outcome … Even though we did not, we want to know that we brought closure and that they are in our thoughts and our prayers, and we also support them to the best of our ability,” Wilkes County Emergency Services Director and Coordinator Jason Reavis said.

Reavis said the exact cause of his death is unknown and was an unfortunate accident.

“That is still being investigated … There will be an autopsy due to the type of death … and his age,” Reavis said.

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