4-year-old boy who wandered away from Orange County home found dead: deputies

A 4-year-old boy who was reported missing Monday morning in Orange County was found dead in a body of water near his home, deputies said.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office said Amere Baptiste had wandered off from his home on Victoria Place Circle, near Waterford Lakes Parkway and Alafaya Trail, sometime Monday morning.

Concerned for his safety due to his age, deputies requested the community to be on the lookout for him. 

The sheriff's office shared the following statement on social media:

"UPDATE: It is with heavy hearts that we must share that our deputies have found Amere Baptiste deceased in a body of water near the home where he was reported missing earlier today. Our detectives are still looking into how this tragedy occurred. We are mourning his loss, and know our community joins us in extending our deepest condolences and prayers to his family."

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