Authorities Say Missing New Orleans Child Likely Died in Alligator Attack

A 12-year-old boy with autism who had been missing for nearly two weeks is believed to have died from an alligator attack, according to police. His body was discovered this week in a canal in New Orleans.

Bryan Vasquez was reported missing on the morning of August 14, after reportedly climbing out of a bedroom window in the eastern part of the city, the New Orleans Police Department said. Vasquez, who was nonverbal, was last seen on doorbell camera footage around 5:20 a.m., walking alone down the street wearing only a diaper.

His body was found Tuesday with the help of a drone. In a statement to CBS News, a spokesperson for the police department confirmed that the Orleans Parish Coroner determined the cause of death to be drowning, with injuries consistent with an alligator attack.

As a result, the case has shifted from a missing child investigation to an unclassified death investigation, now being handled by the homicide division, according to a police department spokesperson.

“Detectives are thoroughly investigating every lead and examining all aspects of the circumstances surrounding Bryan’s death,” the spokesperson said. “At this time, no suspects have been identified or charged. The investigation is ongoing, and further updates will be provided as new information becomes available.”

Bryan’s mother, Hilda Vasquez, told The New Orleans Advocate/The Times-Picayune that her son had a habit of sneaking off to a nearby playground, though the family had recently moved to a new home.

His disappearance sparked an extensive search effort involving multiple agencies, volunteers, airboats, and bloodhounds.

As local and state teams scoured the area, the New Orleans Police Department faced criticism over its delayed response. As reported by CBS Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick acknowledged there was nearly a five-hour delay between the time Bryan was reported missing and when officers arrived on the scene. His body was ultimately found about 200 yards from the original search area. Kirkpatrick noted that in drowning cases, it’s not uncommon for a body to resurface some time after death.

In a separate news release, city officials described Bryan as “a bright, charismatic, and energetic young boy whose joy and spirit touched the lives of his family, friends and community.”      

Kirkpatrick said she has asked the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to remove “nuisance” alligators from the area where Bryan was found.

According to the wildlife agency, hunters capture and remove more than 1,000 nuisance alligators every year in an effort to minimize encounters between the alligators and humans. Louisiana is home to the largest alligator population in the country.

As of the most recent data, Black residents make up approximately 55.2% of New Orleans’ population. According to the U.S. Census Bureau and demographic sources like World Population Review.

BY: BEWITTY Staff