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SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. (BFMG) — Authorities have confirmed the tragic death of 8-year-old Lionel Ramirez Cervantes, who was found in a small pond hours after he disappeared from Bells Crossing Elementary School in Simpsonville, S.C. on Tuesday. Lionel, who was somewhat nonverbal due to autism, was last seen on school security footage around 11:10 a.m. Authorities have confirmed the second grader ran from the school and eluded school staff who attempted to chase him, but eventually lost sight of him.
A massive search effort was immediately launched after Lionel’s disappearance. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the FBI, the Simpsonville Police Department, and the SC Foothills Search & Rescue K-9 Team all assisted in the search, along with the child’s family and local volunteers.
At approximately 3:00 p.m., divers discovered Lionel’s body in a small pond off Lenox Lake Drive, nearly one mile from the school. According to the reports, the boy was found submerged about six feet from a small dock of a private residence. The pond’s edges reportedly drop off into much deeper water, and it had recently been dredged.
The school had been placed on a hold during the search efforts, which concentrated on the surrounding neighborhoods. The last image of Lionel shows him running through the school hallway earlier that morning, wearing the blue shirt he was last seen in.
Victim coordinators from the GCSO are now working with Lionel’s family to support them through this devastating tragedy. “Words are just not sufficient to describe this tragedy. Our hearts and prayers are with this family, school community, staff, and faculty here.” said Dr. Burke Royster, Superintendent of Greenville County Schools.
Statements from Greenville County Schools
From Dr. Carolyn Styles, Board Chair, Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees:
I am heartbroken over the tragic loss of this precious little boy. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I share our earnest prayers and deepest condolences with Lionel’s family, the Bell’s Crossing Elementary School family, and the entire Greenville County Schools community.
From Dr. Burke Royster, Superintendent, Greenville County Schools:
Words are not sufficient to describe this tragedy. Our hearts and prayers are with this family and school community. We appreciate the rapid response of the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and emergency personnel. We deployed a number of district resources to aid in that search. Unfortunately, it came to a very tragic end. We’ll have counselors available for the students and staff at school.
District personnel will be here to step in for staff tomorrow who need time to speak with counselors and process this tragic situation. Anything that we can do to help them through this, we certainly stand ready to do so.
From Chris Ross, Principal, Bell’s Crossing Elementary School:
This was our worst fear today, and we are grieving as a community. We are devastated to lose one of our children. We will bind together with the support of the district. It’s a tragedy we can’t make sense over. We are of course supporting the student’s family in any way we can, along with our students and staff. Thank you for your support of one another during this incredibly difficult time.
Prayer Vigil Service at Bells Crossing Elementary School
We attended a prayer vigil on Friday, September 13th in support of the family and spoke with Dalia, Leo’s mother who told us that she believes negligence is what ultimately caused her son’s death. She tells our reporter that she saw the video from the school but was not allowed to record or capture the last moments of her son’s precious life before he was found in a nearby pond.
Dalia says she doesn’t believe that local media reporters are sharing her sons tragedy with accuracy and transparency and she wants to ensure every child comes home from school safely and this was preventable. Her primary focus is Leo, but we expect to learn more about the incident leading up to the moments he fled from the school and what may have triggered him to do so.
There were many advocates from the local community who were present for the vigil and spoke of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) therapy, a specified behaviour therapy for children who have autism that we’re told Greenville County Schools blocks from implementing in their schools despite guidance in a memo from SC Dept of Education, Ellen Weaver which guides schools in how to handle ABA Therapy accommodation requests.
While we have not confirmed the types of services Leo was receiving in school, we can assume since it was reported he was in a 1/1 ratio contained classroom, that he was a SPED student which leads us to even more questions about how this tragedy occurred and hope to find solutions to protect all children in schools in the future.
🙏🏽PRAYER VIGIL TONIGHT🙏🏽
We gather tonight with heavy hearts to honor and remember Lionel Ramirez Cervantes, a bright and loving 8-year-old whose light was extinguished too soon. Lionel, who brought joy with his big smile and enthusiasm for Spider-Man, is deeply missed by his mother, Dalia, and his entire family.
As we light our candles, let us remember Lionel’s sweetness and the love he shared with those around him. May this vigil serve as a symbol of our collective grief and our support for Dalia and her family during this unimaginable time.
Please bring a candle, white roses and any memories or words of comfort you wish to share. Together, let us hold space for Lionel’s memory and offer our support to his family.
See event to join!
You may also help support by making a donation to the family’s GoFundMe
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Funeral arrangements are announced for 8 year old Lionel “Leo” Ramirez Cervantes.
Funeral services will be held at Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes, Northwest on September 17, 2024.
A visitation for friends and members of the community will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 5:45 p.m., with the funeral service beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the funeral home chapel.
Following the service, the family will receive friends until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
📢 Leo’s family respectfully requests those in attendance refrain from taking any photographs or videos when inside the funeral home.
A private burial will be held at the convenience of his family.
A message from Leo’s mom, Dalia’s Facebook reads:
This is Leo Funeral service information. All those who would like to attend i ask no pictures or video recording.
The only reason i will leave his casket open is too show you’ll what a handsome boy he was. Leo loved strangers immensely, to the extent he would give out free hugs and tell you he loved you.
#JusticeforLionelRamirez
his favorite question was “Hey do you know who Spider-Man is?” He would describe him for you and tell you that Marvel belonged to Disney.
The Wednesday before he died we spent hours together. We thrifted, he had his frosted coffee and some takeout food, and we went grocery shopping where he helped himself to a few(a bunch) items.
Before we got home he asked me if i could buy him plushies the Spidey and Amazing Friends for Christmas. He knew i was his Santa Claus. I told him i would think about it, and probably give him a surprise for Christmas.
View funeral arrangements for “Leo”
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.