ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — An Orange County family is grieving the tragic death of their son on Thanksgiving.
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Search teams found the body of 5-year-old Aaron Pena around 12:30 a.m. in a pond near his Lake Nona home off Moss Park Road.
Photos: Boy, 5, with autism found dead in pond near his home in Orange County
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Teams were out searching for Aaron for more than 12 hours after he wandered off from his home.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help support Aaron’s family.
Aaron’s family said he was autistic and non-verbal.
Neighbors said they are trying to help his family get through this tragedy.
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His mother Melissa Stanton said she was working at home Wednesday when she realized she didn’t hear Aaron around noon.
“I ran out back and called his name, ran out,” Stanton said. “I immediately went downstairs and saw my backdoor was cracked open.”
She said her son had a fascination with water.
Teams were immediately dispatched and searched the woods and pond behind her house.
Deputies searched the pond with boats and infrared.
However, it wasn’t until just after midnight that they made the tragic discovery.
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The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said it is grieving Aaron’s death and praying for his family.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help support Aaron’s family.
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