Police: Missing Toddler Found Dead in Septic Tank

The girl had been playing with her four siblings in the yard at their East Spruce Street home when she apparently fell down a hole into the septic tank, said police.

A New Jersey toddler playing with her four siblings in the yard apparently fell down a hole into a septic tank and died Monday.

Lakewood police say the 2-year-old, identified only as "J.C.," was found shortly after 8 p.m.

The girl's mother, who was inside the house with her 2-month-old baby while the other children were playing outside, reported J.C missing around 4:50 p.m., officials said.

Police and emergency workers responded to the home, and found a small, 3-foot-wide hole in the yard leading to a septic tank.

The search teams called in the Lakewood Township Public Works Department to pump out the water in the tank, officials said.

When the water level dropped by 7:30 p.m., the crews spotted the toddler's body in the tank.

Township police, an Ocean County Sheriff's Department canine unit and a state police helicopter had aided in the search.

Emergency crews were working to remove the body from the tank Monday night.

The medical examiner, who was on the scene, is expected to declare a cause of death after examining the toddler's body.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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