Tragic Incident in Simpsonville: 8-Year-Old Found in Pond

Tragic Incident in Simpsonville: 8-Year-Old Found in Pond

SIMPSONVILLE — The heart-wrenching search for an 8-year-old boy ended in tragedy when the body of Lionel Ramirez Cervantes was discovered in a pond not far from his school, Bell’s Crossing Elementary School. This grim event unfolded on September 12, 2024, after it was reported that the second grader had fled from staff members shortly before noon.

Cervantes, who had autism and was mostly nonverbal, was last seen near the school playground. His run from the classroom initiated a frantic search from school staff. According to reports, he escaped while in class with two other students and three staff members. School officials acted quickly, notifying law enforcement as soon as they realized he had left the premises. They chased him as he ran up a hill, crossed a fence onto a neighboring field with tall grass, and then disappeared from view.

Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis shared during a press conference that many local authorities joined the search efforts, including personnel from the FBI, Mauldin police, and Simpsonville police. Search teams scoured the area throughout the day, and his body was finally found in a pond near Lennox Lake Drive around 3 p.m.

While the exact circumstances of how Cervantes ended up in the water remain unclear, studies show that children with autism have a significantly higher risk of drowning. It’s a known fact that these children are 160 times more likely to drown than their peers.

In the wake of this tragedy, there is immense sorrow within the school and wider community. Carolyn Styles, chairwoman of the Greenville County Schools board, expressed her heartbreak at the loss of such a young life. School principal Christopher Ross described the situation as devastating and confirmed that counselors would be made available to support students and staff during this difficult time.

Looking ahead, Greenville Superintendent Burke Royster assured that a thorough after-action report would be conducted to analyze the incident, with a focus on how personnel managed the situation and how similar occurrences could be prevented in the future.

As the school plans a way to support its students and staff, they have requested that no visitors or volunteers come to the school on Friday. The safety of children is the district’s top priority, and they plan to review their training procedures, specifically focusing on elopement strategies for students with autism.