A second grader from South Carolina allegedly drowned in a pond near his school after going missing on September 12, 2024.
Tragic Loss: 8-Year-Old Lionel Ramirez Cervantes Found Deceased After Vanishing from School
A heartbreaking tragedy has struck the community of Simpsonville, South Carolina. Eight-year-old Lionel Ramirez Cervantes, a student at Bells Crossing Elementary School, was reported missing after he ran from his classroom on the morning of September 12.
According to reports, Lionel was last seen around 11:00 a.m. near the school playground. He had been with two other students and three staff members when he suddenly fled. Staff members gave chase but were unable to catch up with him.
Desperate Search Ends in Heartbreak
The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office immediately launched an extensive search effort, urging the community to assist while cautioning against interfering with tracking dogs on the ground. Concerned residents were asked to check their security cameras and properties for any signs of Lionel’s movements.
Sadly, just hours later, at 4:12 p.m., authorities delivered devastating news: Lionel’s body had been discovered in a body of water off Lenox Lake Drive, not far from the school.
“The GCSO is heartbroken to report that 8-year-old Lionel Ramirez Cervantes, who ran off from Bells Crossing Elementary School, has been located in a body of water off Lenox Lake Drive, a short distance from the school,” the sheriff’s office confirmed in a statement. “Deputies responded to initiate search and rescue efforts and conducted those the entire day. Shortly after 3:00 p.m., Lionel’s body was found by dive team members.”
Victim coordinators have been assigned to support Lionel’s grieving family through this unimaginable loss.
A Mother’s Grief and Demand for Justice
As news of Lionel’s passing spread, his devastated mother, Dalia Cervantes—a single mother of five—expressed her heartbreak and frustration on social media.
“Today I received a call from Lionel’s school that he had gone missing. A few hours later, he was found in a nearby creek,” she wrote. “I know he is now in a better place and with his dad, but my boy did not have to lose his life this way. Negligence caused his death. Now I am left without my Leo.”
Dalia also indicated that she had seen footage related to the incident, writing, “I saw the video, and it does not justify their actions.”
The tragic circumstances surrounding Lionel’s disappearance and death have left the community shaken, with many demanding answers about how such a heartbreaking loss could have been prevented.
Rest in Peace, Lionel Ramirez Cervantes
As family, friends, and neighbors mourn the loss of a bright and beloved little boy, Lionel’s memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this unimaginable time.
