Boy found dead in Whitewater’s Mill Pond
WHITEWATER — A missing 9-year-old boy was found floating in Whitewater’s Mill Pond Thursday, and he was pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital.
Police said the boy, found about 4:15 p.m., apparently fell through the ice while crossing the pond.
His name was not immediately released.
The boy’s parents had reported him missing at about 3 p.m. Thursday, said Police Chief Jim Coan.
The boy’s friends told the police that he had walked across Cravath Lake in downtown Whitewater on Wednesday.
Police began their search at the water’s edge, and the boy was found a few minutes later near the shore of Mill Pond on Mill Street. Mill Pond is a flowage where the creek and lake meet.
One police officer stepped into the frigid water to hoist the boy to another officer standing on shore.
The child immediately was transported by ambulance to Fort Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Even after Thursday night’s freezing temperatures, a reporter for The Janesville Gazette observed this morning only a thin layer of ice and lots of open water on Mill Pond.
Leslie Steinhaus, Whitewater School District administrator, said the boy was a third-grader at Washington Elementary School.
The district has a crisis team in place today to talk to students, parents and staff. A letter also is being sent home to parents.
Jan 19, 2008 at 8:52 p.m.
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My heart goes out to this boy's family. God Bless you during this very difficult time.
Jan 19, 2008 at 8:10 p.m.
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The frozen water
Keeps its’ secret beneath the surface
Where not yet a man he is encased
To Mill’s Pond
He travels silently
Until noticed as he was
They came to begin the tragic rescue
To give him back to family
To remove him from his frozen grave
Nine years to his name
No more to give
A town stilled in its’ grief
Silently mourns
The Lilly on the pond
(regarding the tragic news of a nine year old child found near Mill’s Pond in Whitewater Wi in January 2008)
Jan 18, 2008 at 10:52 p.m.
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edgerton also cut busing a couple of years ago to children in the 2 mile range , didnt matter if they were walking on a major highway , no sidewalks , all they cared about was how much money they saved in busing, now we watch a half empty bus drive by our house everyday, the state needs to change the guidelines and require sidewalks before the school can force children to walk, amazing we can provide busing to sporting events , where they run half empty , but we cant provide a safe ride to and from school. your right our priorities are screwed up
Jan 18, 2008 at 5:38 p.m.
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My heart goes out to the family. Sadly, our society has priorities backwards. This was story 2 on the news last night behind goofs in Green Bay.
God Bless.
Jan 18, 2008 at 5:28 p.m.
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This is a tragic scenario and eye opening for those of us who are left no other choice but to have our young children walk to school. Whitewater's School District has eliminated over 80 families who would normally have buses available requiring some children to walk 2 miles (or just shy) each way to school. My opinion is the safety of our children must come first meaning sometimes the bottom line suffers. God Bless.
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