Found Deceased TX - Marcus McGhee, 9, Pearland, 24 November 2016

[Blondie in Spokane]

Sigh.....RIP Marcus.

 

[hey-Debbie]

So sorry to hear this. Bless his little heart. I hope God holds his family and friends tight in his arms.

 

[DatelineFan]

The poor family.

http://abc13.com/news/missing-boy-with-autism-found-dead-/1626388/

Police say he was found in a pond at the residence he vanished from.

Damn. As soon as I read there was a pond on the property, my heart sank last night. This is just terrible. I really feel for the family, too. It must be difficult for them. Ugh. Heartbreaking.

 

[Jax49]

http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/p...ing-nephew-of-ex-NBA-star-Marcus-10637139.php

Police found 9-year-old Marcus McGhee dead in a lake on the family's property Saturday morning, two days after the little boy with autism vanished from a Thanksgiving Day gathering at the Pearland home of his uncle, former NBA star Marcus Camby.
The boy's body was discovered about 7 a.m. in the water of an L-shaped lake behind Camby's sprawling home, said Lt. Onesimo Lopez, spokesman for the Pearland Police Department.
Lopez said there appeared to be no indications of foul play. A Pearland investigator spotted the body as he walked along the bank of the lake.

 

[Bootsctr]

http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/p...ing-nephew-of-ex-NBA-star-Marcus-10637139.php

Teddy bears and balloons for Marcus! Thoughts and prayers for his family! :heartbeat: God bless Mr. Bowie too!

As a special education teacher in Pasadena ISD, he says it's not out of the ordinary for autistic kids to wander off like Marcus. Autistic children who are nonverbal and don't have strong environmental awareness are even more prone to getting lost, he said.

 

[ms_x_to_the_m]

RIP Marcus. Fly high baby boy.

 

[LisaWL7TR]

I'm so sorry for the family a terrible loss at this time of year.


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[KJ's Mamu]

Heartbroken for Marcus and his family. Prayers for peace and strength for the family.

RIP little man.
:rose:

 

[Vail]

Every time I read about a young person with autism being found in water, I wonder and wonder what the hours before that were like for them - how they perceived their actions and environment, what motivated them and how they end up drowning. Is it a desire for adventure? Do they decide to find out how long they can hold their breath, or believe there is a hidden kingdom at the bottom? Do they just wander aimlessly or get lost, and fall in, panic and not know how to save themselves? It is baffling, and tragic and something I hope we can one day understand better so as to do a better job of keeping them safe. RIP Marcus.

<3

 

[AmyPond]

Every time I read about a young person with autism being found in water, I wonder and wonder what the hours before that were like for them - how they perceived their actions and environment, what motivated them and how they end up drowning. Is it a desire for adventure? Do they decide to find out how long they can hold their breath, or believe there is a hidden kingdom at the bottom? Do they just wander aimlessly or get lost, and fall in, panic and not know how to save themselves? It is baffling, and tragic and something I hope we can one day understand better so as to do a better job of keeping them safe. RIP Marcus.

<3

I think some of your questions could probably be answered by reading more about what autism is and how it effects kids. I mean, ALL kids are very different. But I do know that many kids with autism have a hard time understanding concepts like danger. And some have a hard time learning various things. Even things that come "naturally" to other kids takes a lot of effort to learn for a child with autism. So something that takes effort for neurotypical kids, like swimming, can be VERY difficult for a child with autism to learn.

Sometimes the only thing that can be done is constant supervision. But anyone with a child knows that is sometimes easier said that done. There are some newer products out there that can help but they are sort of expensive. AngelSense would be an example.

 

[Jax49]

I think some of your questions could probably be answered by reading more about what autism is and how it effects kids. I mean, ALL kids are very different. But I do know that many kids with autism have a hard time understanding concepts like danger. And some have a hard time learning various things. Even things that come "naturally" to other kids takes a lot of effort to learn for a child with autism. So something that takes effort for neurotypical kids, like swimming, can be VERY difficult for a child with autism to learn.

Sometimes the only thing that can be done is constant supervision. But anyone with a child knows that is sometimes easier said that done. There are some newer products out there that can help but they are sort of expensive. AngelSense would be an example.

Thanks for a very informative post. I googled price for the AS system and it is on sale now; total price about $500 for a year, paid in monthly installments.

 

[Eloise]

RIP Marcus. You looked like a real sweetheart. Tragic outcome. I really feel for his parents right now. My worst nightmare.

Lots of reasons why this happens a lot - I think partly it's a complete lack of a sense of danger. Autism is often found alongside intellectual disability, sensory issues and/or severe communication deficits which prohibits learning to swim on the same timetable and to the same level as neurotypical children.

I also read an article once written by an adult with autism who explained how comforting and calming water was to them, so maybe it's naturally very appealing to some people with autism.

 

[LisaWL7TR]

Every time I read about a young person with autism being found in water, I wonder and wonder what the hours before that were like for them - how they perceived their actions and environment, what motivated them and how they end up drowning. Is it a desire for adventure? Do they decide to find out how long they can hold their breath, or believe there is a hidden kingdom at the bottom? Do they just wander aimlessly or get lost, and fall in, panic and not know how to save themselves? It is baffling, and tragic and something I hope we can one day understand better so as to do a better job of keeping them safe. RIP Marcus.

<3

My oldest was diagnosed adhd at 5yoa but has always showed signs of autism. If anything I would say aspergers syndrome. Still as an adult they ruled adhd.

He would always move his one hand fast like the potty when he flushed. ...maybe the movement of the water...a calming stimulant.






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[lmadler]

Every time I read about a young person with autism being found in water, I wonder and wonder what the hours before that were like for them - how they perceived their actions and environment, what motivated them and how they end up drowning. Is it a desire for adventure? Do they decide to find out how long they can hold their breath, or believe there is a hidden kingdom at the bottom? Do they just wander aimlessly or get lost, and fall in, panic and not know how to save themselves? It is baffling, and tragic and something I hope we can one day understand better so as to do a better job of keeping them safe. RIP Marcus.

<3

Because they are fearless and dont understand or realize the danger. I can pretty much guess everything was great before he decided to go off on his own adventure

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[CocoChanel]

I am a longtime special educator, with an interest in and knowledge of autism. I have learned much from people on the autism spectrum who can verbalize what it is like. One man with asd once said "being in water is the only time I am not in pain". That was very powerful for me to hear. It drove home the fact that our friends on the autism spectrum contend with so much on a minute-to-minute basis. The world often feels like a big black hole for them with things happening at random in their perception. The anxiety that produces is overwhelming, and many times they will rely on coping strategies that seem inappropriate and strange, or even dangerous. My guess is that this precious child was drawn to the water because he knew water to be a "good" place. I am heartbroken for the family. May God bless them all.

 

[LietKynes]

Sigh... Again with the attraction to water.

Rest gently, precious Marcus !

 

[Damarna]

One of my ASD students said the pressure of the water on his body was comforting. Similar to deep pressure input with a weighted vest or blanket. He can focus on the movement of the water without being overwhelmed. Again, calming for him. Even the sound of running water can relax him.

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