Daytona Beach: Two Young Brothers Perish in Pond After Apartment Exit

Authorities in Florida, U.S. have confirmed the tragic discovery of two young brothers, aged three and five, who were found deceased in a nearby pond after reportedly leaving their apartment while their mother was asleep. The boys, identified as 3-year-old Kashh and 5-year-old Elijah, were reported missing on Saturday, October 10, 2026, before their bodies were located in a pond situated within their Daytona Beach apartment complex.

Police officials noted that Elijah had autism, highlighting the known tendency for many children with the condition to be drawn to water. Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young stated that investigators believe the children's deaths were accidental, with no indications of foul play. Chief Young described the incident as a parent's ultimate fear, saying, "This is your greatest nightmare – to lose both of your children in that fashion."

According to Chief Young, the boys' single mother had fed them around 5 p.m. on Saturday before taking a brief nap. She awoke approximately 15 minutes later to find both children, along with the family dog, had exited the apartment. Despite the presence of a child safety lock on the door, Young explained, "She does have a child safety lock on the door, so apparently, they figured out how to navigate that child safety lock, and they exited the apartment."

Surveillance footage from the complex reportedly shows the children running around before entering the pond. Moments later, their mother is seen on the video emerging from the apartment. Chief Young added that the mother was attempting to locate her children before contacting 911, but by that time, the video evidence suggests they were already submerged in the water.

While Chief Young maintains that the deaths were accidental, the case has been transferred to the State Attorney’s Office, which will ultimately determine whether any charges will be brought against the mother. Meanwhile, residents of the apartment complex have expressed hopes that management will install fencing or other protective measures around the pond to prevent similar tragedies in the future.