The Onslow County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina received a call about a missing toddler on December 11, 2025. A 16-month-old boy reportedly disappeared from a home in the 200 block of Old Timber Road around 4:30 p.m. Deputies arrived a short time later and began their search for the young child. They searched the property and made a shocking discovery. Deputies located the toddler submerged in a container of water on the home’s front porch. Emergency responders rushed him to the hospital, hoping he’d survive.
The Onslow County Sheriff’s Office shared in a news release that deputies found the child submerged and unconscious. “Deputies immediately initiated lifesaving measures until Emergency Medical Services personnel arrived. The child was transported to a Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune, where he was later pronounced deceased,” the sheriff’s office noted.
The sheriff’s office didn’t identify the child or the residents of the home where he drowned. Officials noted the case remains under investigation. As soon as the story hit the sheriff’s office’s Facebook page, people immediately began questioning how this happened.
“I’m trying to figure out why there was a container of water on the front porch…how big was it for a 16-month old to be in it and not be seen right away?” someone asked in the comments section of the post.
Others came to the family’s defense, such as this person who admitted they’d probably not think to check every little spot. “Heartbreaking my thoughts are with the deputies and first responders. I will wait to pass judgment on the parents until all the facts are known publicly. Children have fallen into coolers/storage containers and drown before,” the commenter explained. “Personally, if my child was missing I’m not sure I would think to check the containers right away. My mind would be thinking he wandered off. I pray the baby didn’t suffer too long.”
But someone else alleged that the home where the child lived appeared dangerous. “For anyone debating and wondering how no one could see the baby in a container on the porch, I encourage you to take a drive past the 200 block of Old Timber Road and see how easy it would be to not be able to see a baby through all of the stuff,” the person claimed. “I’m sure this was a totally preventable incident and I pray there was no foul play because there are five other sweet, innocent children who have just lost a sibling.”
What a horrific tragedy for this family. Hopefully, it was just an accident and nothing evil occurred at that home.
