The body of Thomas Haskins was a day away from being cremated – and his closest kin didn’t even know he was dead.A Mercer County, Ohio, toddler drowned Friday night in an above-ground pool at his home, Sheriff Jeff Grey said today.
Evan Quinn of Mendon was found on the bottom of the pool after a search involving his parents, siblings, friends, neighbors, sheriff's deputies, police and firefighters, Grey said in a statement.
"This is a terrible accident," Grey said in the statement. "My heart goes out to the parents. Deputies are continuing their investigation, but there is no indication or suspicion that this is anything except a tragic accident."
The statement said police received a call at 9 p.m. from James Quinn, the child's father, saying he could not find his son.
Evan had been playing with toys by the pool, the statement said, and his parents were on the patio watching him. They took their attention away for a short time, the statement said, and when they looked back, they didn't see him.
It said the parents sent another child to look for Evan behind the pool, then searched the pool, the surrounding area and inside the house before calling 911.
In rechecking the pool, a responder found the child, the statement said.
Evan was taken to a hospital in St. Mary's, Ohio, where he was pronounced dead.
Celina police, the Mendon Fire Department, Rockford EMS "and many friends and neighbors" assisted in the search, the statement said.
