PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — A 6-year-old Pasco boy who went missing Thursday night was found dead.
The Pasco Sheriff's Office said deputies were looking for Cory Chester after he disappeared from the Ross Lane area of New Port Richey.
WATCH: Missing 6-year-old Pasco boy found dead in pond, family confirms
The parents of the child, who did not want to speak on camera, told ABC Action News he had severe autism and was non-verbal. He was found in a nearby pond in a gated community down the road, the parents said.
Katie Lester lives nearby.
“There was four-wheelers, I saw a truck going up and down, and then there was people walking, and that’s when I yelled out who are you looking for?" said Lester. "There was two helicopters flying around, and I just told them what I saw.”
The parents described Cory as a happy kid, who was bubbly, curious, and always smiling.
"We send our sincerest condolences and prayers to Cory's family and friends during this difficult time," the Sheriff's Office said in a statement.
The Sheriff's Office said the investigation remains ongoing.
“You know, it might just be time we take a look if HOAs are really even necessary.
Maybe we should just do away with homeowner associations as a whole.”
South Florida lawmaker Rep. Juan Carlos Porras (R-Miami) says it may be time to do away with homeowners associations altogether, as more Floridians speak out about rising fees, costly lawsuits, and even arrests tied to HOA disputes. He said this week that he is considering filing legislation in the next session that would abolish HOAs statewide.
