CHICOPEE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Authorities continued their search for a missing 10-year-old boy Monday, two days after his 11-year-old cousin died after being recovered from the Chicopee River—but called off the search in the early afternoon due to weather concerns.
The children were reported missing around 1 p.m. Saturday after they had gone to play in the woods and hadn't come home. Chicopee Police were called to the area of 283 Fuller Road to search for the pair.
The department said on their Facebook page around 6 p.m. Saturday that the 11-year-old child had been recovered; the next day, in a follow-up post, they said that child had died.
Chicopee Fire said the boys had possibly fallen through the ice.
The search resumed Monday morning, with crews combing through the area in difficult weather conditions.
"We have obviously officers on foot, we have canine officers, we have a boat team that we have deployed, as well as the State Police helicopter, and other agencies, our Fire Department, that are down there right now," Chicopee Police Public Information Officer Michael Wilk told WBZ NewsRadio.
Officer Wilk asked the public to avoid the search area around Fuller Road. He thanked the community for their kindness and compassion, and said the department's thoughts were with the boys' families.
"When you find a child like this, it's extremely difficult, and it's tragic," Officer Wilk said. "We feel for the family, and it's a horrible feeling."
Wilk said the operation was still a search and recovery.
"Until we have any type of confirmation that anything else has happened, we are optimistic, we're hopeful, and we're just wishing for the best," he said.
The department said around 1 p.m. that crews had been cleared due to hazardous weather conditions.
(Photo: Getty Images)
WBZ NewsRadio's Chris Fama (@CFamaWBZ) reports
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App