SRSO investigating accidental drowning of Gulf Breeze child who went missing Friday morning

The body of a child from Gulf Breeze who was reported missing Friday morning was found in a pond later in the day, according to Sgt. Rich Aloy, spokesman for the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.

“Sadly, this case is being investigated as an accidental drowning at this time,” Aloy said in a news release.

Authorities had not released the child’s name as of late Friday afternoon, and an investigation into the exact circumstances of the child's death remained open. 

SRSO deputies were dispatched around 11 a.m. Friday to the area around Greenview Lane in Gulf Breeze after a caller reported a child had gone missing.

The child walked away from home, and for several hours, deputies and residents worked together to search the area surrounding the home.

Aloy told the News Journal the child’s body was located at approximately 1:45 pm in a nearby pond.

Colin Warren-Hicks can be reached at colinwarrenhicks@pnj.com or 850-435-8680.