A 5-year-old girl with autism, who disappeared from a Montgomery County home during Isaia’s storm, was found dead Wednesday. She was believed to have been swept away by floodwaters in the creek behind her house, authorities said.
The name of the girl was Eliza Talal and had last been seen at about noon in a Lansdale home.
She was found at about 10:40 a.m. Wednesday in Fischer’s Park next to a creek after waters receded.
Police chief Tim Dickinson said several hundred people searched for her with the aid of boats and two helicopters. “We believe, based on the circumstances, that she left the house and somehow got into the water and then of course was pulled into the water,” Dickinson said.
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First responders had been looking for the girl near the creek while police had asked neighbors to search parks, sheds, and crawl spaces.
A neighbor was searching the park Wednesday morning and found the girl’s body.
“I can tell you that these police officers here, and first responders and community members searched tirelessly. Our prayers go out her family who has suffered a terrible loss,” said Dickinson.