Body of 10-Year-Old Boy Found in New Jersey River; Sister Still Missing

Authorities in New Jersey are continuing an intensive search for a 10-year-old girl after discovering her brother’s body in the Passaic River on Wednesday evening. Passaic Mayor Hector Lora expressed hope that the child might still be found alive, despite the grim discovery of her sibling. “Right now, all of our efforts are in trying to recover the body but hoping that perhaps, maybe hope against all things, that we could find the little girl still alive,” Lora told FOX 5 New York.

The mayor speculated that the boy may have sacrificed himself to save his younger sister from the water. “The 10-year-old boy, as he was going down, maybe an angel, maybe God used him to push his little sister, and now she made her way out so she’s home. But the mother has lost her little boy,” Lora said during an interview with reporters.

Emergency responders received distress calls at approximately 6:20 p.m. on Wednesday after witnesses spotted three children struggling in the river. A bystander attempted to assist the children but was unsuccessful in removing them from the water, according to FOX 5 New York.

Search and rescue operations extended through Thursday morning, with teams from the Passaic Police Department, Passaic County Sheriff’s Office and New Jersey State Police participating in the effort. Heavy water conditions caused by recent storms complicated rescue operations in the area.