Missing 8-year-old found drowned after running away from school

A second-grade student from South Carolina is believed to have drowned in a pond adjacent to his school after being reported missing on September 12, 2024.

According to heartbreaking accounts, 8-year-old Lionel Ramirez Cervantes was enrolled at Bells Crossing Elementary School in Simpsonville. He was last observed at the school around 11 a.m. on that day before he disappeared.

Reports indicate that the young boy fled from his classroom and the school premises. At the time, he was accompanied by two other students and three staff members, who attempted to pursue him but ultimately lost sight of him.

Following his disappearance, the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office initiated a search operation for Lionel, which has since concluded in sorrowful news.

At 2:10 p.m., the department issued a statement: “Lionel is still missing. While we are continuing our search efforts, we ask that community members who wish to assist refrain from searching ‘on foot’ and remain in their vehicles, as we have dogs on the ground working off a scent. We encourage everyone to check their properties and surveillance systems for any activity that may have recorded Lionel’s movements.”

Later, at 4:12 p.m., the sheriff’s office announced that Lionel’s body had been discovered.

“The GCSO is devastated to inform the public that 8-year-old Lionel Ramirez Cervantes, who had run away from Bells Crossing Elementary School, has been found in a body of water near Lenox Lake Drive, not far from the school. Lionel reportedly exited the school and was last seen near the playground around 11:10 a.m.,” the Facebook post stated.
Deputies promptly initiated search and rescue operations, which continued throughout the day. At approximately 3:00 PM, members of the dive team discovered Lionel’s body in a body of water near Lenox Lake Drive. The GCSO has deployed victim coordinators to assist the family during this tragic time. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.

Following the news of his passing, Lionel’s mother, Dalia Cervantes, a single mother of five, expressed her profound sorrow on social media.

“Today, I received a call from Lionel’s school informing me that he was missing. A few hours later, he was found in a nearby creek. I take comfort in knowing he is now in a better place, reunited with his father. However, my son should not have lost his life in this manner,” she posted on Facebook.