A 12-year-old non-verbal boy, Bryan Vasquez, who had been missing for nearly two weeks in New Orleans, was found dead after being attacked by an alligator in a lagoon, authorities confirmed. The Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office determined that the boy’s death resulted from blunt force trauma due to the alligator and drowning, and an ongoing investigation is underway.
The boy’s disappearance had sparked a frantic search involving local, state, and federal agencies, volunteers, airboats, and bloodhounds. However, the police faced criticism for a five-hour delay in responding to a 911 call about the child. Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick told reporters at a press conference that the boy’s death is considered ‘unclassified,’ and that an investigation remains ongoing.
Vasquez was first reported missing by his family on August 14 after he reportedly escaped through a bedroom window. He was seen wandering alone and wearing only a diaper on doorbell camera footage around 5:20 that morning. His body was pulled from a lagoon on Tuesday, about 200 yards from where he likely entered the water near his home, with the help of the United Cajun Navy and a thermal drone.
Kirkpatrick said it was unclear what caused the delay, noting that there will be an internal investigation to determine why. ‘I think the death of Bryan is a failure,’ Kirkpatrick said. ‘I think it is. We are going to look at everything, and I mean everything.’
Meanwhile, Kirkpatrick also confirmed that a search warrant was granted and several phones were confiscated, including Bryan’s mother’s phone. Kirkpatrick said this was a normal part of the investigation and there were still ‘no suspects’ at this time. ‘We’re looking at everyone’s situation, their history, their backgrounds, based on what we’ve been told,’ Kirkpatrick said. ‘That’s why all facts have to be put into context. But there is no suspect. Circumstances is what we have now.’