When we put our babies or toddlers to bed at night, we can usually rest assured that the only place they might venture to in the middle of the night is into our arms or our bed for some extra snuggles. As the parent of a small child, you never think your life is going to be completely swept up from under you in one night. Sadly, a 3-year-old boy in Wisconsin is dead after wandering away from home to a nearby river.
Allegedly, his father last checked on him around midnight. The toddler wandered approximately four blocks and was found in the Wolf River around 7 a.m.
The toddler is dead after wandering away from his home.
A 3-year-old little boy from New London, Wisconsin, has died after going missing from his home in the early morning hours of April 13, 2026, People reported.
In a post on the New London Police Department’s Facebook page that has since been updated, police shared that a 3-year-old boy went missing from the 1000 block of West Beacon Avenue in New London. The toddler has not been identified, but he was seen near a middle school in the area around midnight wearing an orange Chicago Bears shirt and a diaper.
According to Fox 11, the toddler was found in the downtown area in the Wolf River. He was located shortly after 7 a.m. and taken to a hospital where he was declared dead a few hours later.
This is so incredibly heartbreaking.
The dad reportedly last checked on his son at home around midnight.
According to NBC 26, the Wolf River where the child was found on Monday morning is roughly 1,000 feet from his home.
Police Chief Joshua Wilson told the news outlet that police did not know the events that led to the child being in the water. Nine agencies, including the New London Fire Department and First Responders, along with drones and K9 units, all responded to the call.
The New London neighborhood is in shock and grieving for the little boy’s family.
Upon hearing that a little boy in their neighborhood had gone missing in the night, the New London community really came together. Amber Rodgers, a neighbor, spoke to NBC 26 about how she jumped into action when she heard the news.
“They mentioned Hatten Park, which is literally two blocks from my house so I quickly got dressed and went right to Hatten Park,” Rodgers shared.
Rodgers said more than a dozen neighbors joined in the search for the 3-year-old because “most of [them] are moms.” When the neighborhood heard that the little boy had died, Rodgers told NBC 26 that she “[feels] for the parents,” the kids, and “for the community.”
According to NBC 26, the police have not confirmed a cause of death and are still investigating.
Our thoughts go out to the family of the 3-year-old and the New London community grieving this monumental loss.
