Juan Acevedo Death & Obituary: Body of 12-Year-Old Found in Pond Near Mica Avenue, Virginia Beach

Juan Acevedo Death & Obituary: VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – Tragedy has struck the Virginia Beach community as the body of 12-year-old Juan Sebastian Mejia Acevedo, the subject of a recent AMBER Alert, was discovered in a pond near the 200 block of Mica Avenue. The heartbreaking discovery marks the conclusion of an extensive search that began after Juan went missing.

Body Recovered Near Apartment Complex

Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate confirmed during a press conference on Monday that the body was recovered approximately eight feet underwater using advanced sonar technology. The discovery was made during a routine search conducted by the department’s marine patrol.

“Utilizing new sonar technology, we recovered a body approximately eight feet underwater that matches the physical and clothing descriptions of Juan Acevedo,” Neudigate stated.

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While official confirmation from the medical examiner’s office is pending, Virginia State Police have canceled the AMBER Alert, noting that the missing juvenile has been located.

Timeline of Juan Acevedo’s Disappearance

Juan was reported missing on Friday evening after he failed to return home from what his parents believed was a visit to a friend’s house. Concern grew as the family received ransom demands through social media, prompting authorities to treat the case as a potential abduction.

An AMBER Alert was issued on Saturday morning as search efforts intensified across the area. Despite no specific leads pointing to the pond, authorities proactively included it in their search to leave no stone unturned.

Investigations into Ransom Demands

During the investigation, Juan’s family received ransom demands of $500, which they paid. However, there was no further communication from the alleged abductors. Authorities are now investigating whether the ransom threats were part of a cruel scam or connected to Juan’s disappearance.

Chief Neudigate commented:

“One of our theories is that it may have been a scam, but we would be negligent not to treat this as an actual abduction until we know otherwise.”

Cause of Death and Next Steps

It remains unclear whether foul play was involved in Juan Acevedo’s death. The medical examiner will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death, which will guide the next steps in the investigation.

Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Juan’s disappearance and the ransom threats. They urge anyone with information to come forward and assist with the ongoing investigation.

Community Mourning and Support

Chief Neudigate extended his deepest condolences to Juan’s family and the Virginia Beach community, acknowledging the pain of this tragic loss:

“This is a period of grieving for the family, and we will be there to support them during this unimaginably difficult time.”

How to Help

Anyone with information related to Juan’s disappearance or the ransom demands is urged to contact the Virginia Beach Police Department or Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.

Tags: Juan Acevedo death, Virginia Beach AMBER Alert, boy found in pond, Juan Sebastian Mejia Acevedo, Virginia Beach investigation

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