SMITHFIELD, N.C. — A 4-year-old North Carolina boy’s remains were found Thursday morning about 30 yards from where recovery crews located his 5-year-old sister’s body nearly 12 hours earlier, concluding a nearly three-day search for the siblings swept away in a Monday flash flood.
Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell confirmed to WTVD that search crews found the bodies of both Abraham and Alexa and praised the community for rallying around the tragic effort.
Bizzell told the TV station he regretted not having better news, but he hoped that the family could at least find closure now.
Authorities said that crews found Alexa’s body around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.
“I can’t imagine either the emotions of the family, of the heartbreak, the hurt, the devastation. It’s been tough on myself; it’s been tough on the deputies. … Everybody that I’ve talked to has been in continuous prayer for this family, these kids,” he added.
Alexa and Abraham were riding in the car being driven by their mother around 11:30 p.m. Monday when the vehicle was swept by floodwaters into a creek, WRAL reported.
According to the TV station, rescue crews confirmed that they found both Abraham and his mother during their initial rescue attempt but never saw Alexa. While first responders were able to pull the mother safely from the water, the boy slipped from their grasp when a rescue vessel capsized.
The woman’s white sedan was later located a short distance downstream from where it entered the creek, but no one was inside. She was treated at a hospital and released Tuesday.