NC Search underway after 7-year old boy falls into Tar River, Franklinton, Mar 17, 2025

[Clearsky]

NC boy disappears | Child vanishes in Tar River, North Carolina first responders continues search | abc11.com

Rescuers%20are%20searching%20the%20Tar%20River%20in%20Franklin%20County%20for%20a%207-year-old%20boy.

abc11.com

FRANKLINTON, N.C. (WTVD) -- It's been an emotional 24 hours for the family of a seven-year-old boy who vanished in the Tar River on Monday.

 

[Vern_S]

On Monday evening, I was contacted by the Franklin County Sheriff's department requesting that I help them search for a missing boy in the Tar River. I agreed to help. I have worked with them on a couple cases, most notably Rebecca Ann Jamason, whom I am going to continue searching for this summer.

Yesterday, I spent the day on the TAR River helping searchers look for the boy that fell into the river and did not surface. I sonar mapped about a mile of river and used real-time multi-beam sonar, think of it like an underwater search light, to assess the river and check anomalies.

They had Human Remains Detection, HRD, dogs on the river today, so I am home looking through my sonar imagery for more "anomalies" to be checked and reconfiguring my search gear. A number of counties are helping with the search for the boy.

 

[Vern_S]

I am heading back there tomorrow prepared to stay for several days if need be to help in the search.

 

[Trinitee]

Tar River Searched for Missing Child, 7

FRANKLINTON -- Rescue and recovery crews continued to look for a missing youngster, feared to have drowned in the Tar River.

 

[Vern_S]

I just got home a few hours ago from Franklin county helping to search for the 7 yr old boy that fell in the Tar River. He is still missing but a location of interest is being searched. I spent 5 of the last 7 days sonar mapping 11 miles of river, conducting bottom current drift tests, and assisting with ROVs and underwater pole cameras to search a point of interest. A clump of huge boulders near were the boy fell in is the primary point of interest. HRD dogs have been hitting in the boulders. Franklin County EMS and NC SBI posted today with photos of this area.

Here is an image from a sonar map I scanned last Saturday so you can see what the area of boulders looks like underwater. As you can see, this is a tough search. For reference, The big boulder in the lower right is 30 ft long.

I'll post more updates as I get them.

 

[Vern_S]

I just received an update on the search for the missing boy. He was recovered near the location where he fell in. That is all the information that I have at this time. Family has been notified.

Update: Just released.

https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/body-of-missing-7-year-old-boy-recovered-from-tar-river-in-franklin-county-sheriff-says/

 

[Vern_S]

Ronald Lamar Brodie Jr. recovered from the Tar River.

North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE** (FRANKLIN COUNTY, NC) - The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) was requested last week by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office to assist in the search for a...

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