After two weeks, 12-year-old missing boy found dead – drowned in an alligator attack
Bryan Vasquez, a 12-year-old nonverbal child from New Orleans, tragically lost his life in August 2025 following an alligator attack. Bryan, who had autism and was unable to communicate in English or Spanish, was reported missing on August 14 after escaping his home through a bedroom window. Surveillance footage captured him walking alone in a diaper early that morning around 5:30 a.m., according to CBS News.
A massive, nearly two-week-long search effort involving local authorities, volunteers, and the United Cajun Navy culminated in the discovery of Bryan’s body in a lagoon near his home in the Michoud area. His body was found on Tuesday, August 26, and was located with help from a drone.
WMAZ-13 News reports the Orleans Parish Coroner as confirming that Bryan’s cause of death was “drowning with blunt force trauma consistent with an alligator attack.” News of that alligator attack prompted New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick to request the removal of “nuisance alligators” from the area.
Bryan’s untimely and horrific death has sparked public concern over a reported five-hour delay between the initial missing persons report and police response. Investigators have since executed search warrants and are reviewing family history and all circumstances surrounding Bryan’s death
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Fox News shared a quote from city officials who described Bryan as a “bright, charismatic, and energetic young boy” whose memory will remain in the hearts of those who knew him.
Bryan’s family and friends have established a GoFundMe campaign in his name. For more on this heartbreaking story, see the video accompanying this article.
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Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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