INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team found the body of a missing two-year-old boy who apparently fell from a second-story window at his home and walked to a pond. The hours-long search for Shamar Windhom – who had autism – prompted a massive response from local, state and national law enforcement agencies.
“It’s something that could’ve happened without anybody noticing. The parents said (Windhom) was drawn to water and given the opportunity would bolt toward the body of water,” Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers said. “We’re very sad for the family. Our hearts go out to them.”
Windhom was reported missing Tuesday afternoon. The dive team found the body just before midnight in dark, murky water inside the 5-foot pond at the Walker Woods Apartment complex where the boy lived.
“There was no way for us to see inside that pond (at night). The underwater drones have lights on them and it’s still difficult to see,” Flowers said. “Without the help of the dive team, without people getting in the water and feeling around and using the drone, there wasn’t much we could’ve done in that situation.”
An autopsy will be performed Wednesday on Windhom. Flowers said the incident was heartbreaking and a tragic accident.
“It was tough yesterday seeing the family. Some of his relatives we’ve worked with for a long time. It’s just a sad situation,” Flowers said.
Windom’s family described him as a vibrant, energetic child who was loved by all who knew him. Flowers said the boy was nonverbal and most likely did not scream when he fell.
“A lot of autistic kids don’t react as well to pain. I’m the father of an autistic child…I know,” Flowers said. “It’s very possible there was no noise other than branches breaking or the sound of him hitting the ground. The ground was very soft. He could’ve hit the ground without anybody hearing it.”
Video by Nick Samuel
The father, who was feeding and giving medicine to another small child, last saw Windhom about 2:30 p.m. inside the apartment unit in the 2800 block of 71st Circle. When the father noticed Windhom was missing, he went upstairs and saw the window screen on the second floor appeared to be pushed out.
Flowers said the father ran downstairs, did not see any sign of the child and dialed 911.
Multiple law enforcement agencies, family, community members and neighbors searched Tuesday for any sign of Windhom, who was only wearing a diaper. Law enforcement officials used helicopters, K-9 dogs, bloodhounds and underwater drones to search the complex, the woods nearby and the pond.
“Our team spent hours yesterday afternoon with the family. Everything they’ve given us is very consistent,” Flowers said in a news conference Wednesday morning in front of the complex.
“The mom got up in the morning yesterday and went to work like she does every day. The dad was here with the two young children taking care of them. Both of the young children had been sick. Unfortunately, in an effort to air out the house from the sickness, the father opened a couple of the windows of the apartment on the second story and left them open.”
Flowers said autistic children have a tendency to take off. The sheriff said Windhom’s father had absolute good intentions to help everyone in the house not get sick.
“Unfortunately, it turned into a tragedy,” Flowers said. “These are tough scenarios. There’s not much you can do about it.”
Flowers said the boy pushed against one of the screens and the screen popped out. The sheriff said it appeared the child fell onto the foliage on the ground.
“There was quite a bit of bushes and shrubbery that would’ve broken the child’s fall,” Flowers said. “The child made its way 25-to-30 yards to the water. A child in the water can drown very quickly.”
The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Missing Persons in America issued alerts on Tuesday notifying the public about the missing boy. Other agencies involved in the search for Windhom were the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Indian River County Fire Rescue, Vero Beach Police Department, Sebastian Police Department and the FBI.
Deputies closed 26th Street from 74th Avenue to 66th Avenue for about four hours during the search. Flowers’ message to parents of autistic children: “keep doors and windows locked…that’s critically important.”
