Body of Miramar boy, 4, is found in lake near his home

A 4-year-old boy with autism left his Miramar home and a short time later, his body was found in a lake behind the house, police said.

Jerson Theodore was at home with three children on Saturday night in the Harbor Lake Estates community when he heard door chimes.

The chimes are part of the home’s security features that include fences around the property and pool, Miramar police spokeswoman Tania Rues said Monday.

“When he searched for [Joshua] and could not locate him, he contacted police immediately,” Rues said.

Two officers from Pembroke Pines, a Broward Sheriff’s K-9 and deputies in a BSO helicopter helped look for Joshua.

About 7:35 p.m., deputies in the helicopter saw a body in the lake, 10 feet from the Theodore residence in the 19400 block of Southwest 17th Street, a report said.

The Pembroke Pines officers also are divers. They pulled the body from the water and began administering CPR.

Miramar Fire Rescue paramedics took Joshua to Memorial Hospital Miramar while also trying to revive him, the report said.

“Unfortunately, he did not survive,” Rues said. “At present time, this appears to be a tragic accident.”

When reached by phone Monday, Theodore, 56, said he was not able to talk about his son.

The Harbor Lake Estates community is east of U.S. 27, between Pembroke Road and Miramar Parkway.