Body of 3-year-old boy who went missing from babysitter’s home found in pond

The body of a 3-year-old boy who had gone missing from his babysitter’s home in Massachusetts was recovered in a nearby pond on Wednesday, ending a massive search effort.

Over 200 first responders meticulously searched five square miles in Lowell’s Pawtucketville neighborhood where the toddler, identified by authorities only as Harry, was last seen on Monday morning around 9:15 a.m, officials said.

He was found in the pond around 1:10 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon in about five feet of water next to a Christmas tree farm, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan told NBC Boston. His body was about 650 from the babysitter’s home.

“Our thoughts and hearts are with the family who lost this child,” Ryan said.

Authorities had searched the pond on Tuesday but were unable to find him. Ryan said it was not clear if Harry was in the pond at the time it was searched.

He was found wearing the same clothes he was last seen in — gray pants and a long-sleeved maroon shirt, Ryan said. There were no signs of external trauma.

Ryan said authorities “have no idea how Harry came to reach that pond” at this time.

Harry had been last seen by a neighbor playing in the backyard of his babysitter’s house just 15 minutes before police received a call for a missing toddler.

Foul play was not suspected, cops said.

Surveillance footage showed the sitter immediately start looking for Harry before she asks neighbors to help. She quickly phoned the police.

“Every parent who has ever had a toddler is in terror of that toddler wandering off,” Ryan said