Current:Home > MarketsChild's body confirmed by family as Mattie Sheils, who had been swept away in a Philadelphia river-VaTradeCoin
Child's body confirmed by family as Mattie Sheils, who had been swept away in a Philadelphia river
lotradecoin identity View Date:2024-12-25 22:45:32
The body of a 2-year-old girl who was swept away along with her 9-month-old brother, was confirmed as that of Mattie Sheils on Saturday by authorities.
Upper Makefield Police Township Police Department posted on Facebook Saturday that "we are grateful that prayers were answered and that we were able to bring Mattie home," adding that the search continues for Mattie's brother.
"This has only strengthened our resolve to reunite Conrad with his family and sister. So, today, search operations will continue in the manner described in last night's press conference," the post read.
The Sheils family posted a statement on the police township's Facebook page that read: "The Sheils family would like to express their continued gratitude for the overwhelming outpouring of love, support, and concern from the community and from people around the country as rescue workers have worked tirelessly to find Mattie and Conrad. We are grateful that our little Mattie has been brought home to us. We are still praying for the return of Conrad. Thank you all, again, for your compassion and your kindness. We are humbled."
During a news conference on Friday, Upper Makefield Township Fire Chief Tim Brewer said a body believed to be Mattie was found in the Delaware River in the city of Philadelphia after being reported by multiple 911 callers a little after 5 p.m. local time, south of the Betsy Ross Bridge.
The girl's body was recovered and taken to the Philadelphia coroner's office for identification, he said.
The girl's body was discovered about 32 miles south of where Mattie and her brother Conrad were swept away on the night of July 15 in Upper Makefield Township in Bucks County. Five other people — including the children's mother — died when a roadway in Upper Makefield Township flooded during a powerful storm.
The Charleston, South Carolina, family was driving when they got caught in the flooding. The children's father, grandmother and 4-year-old brother were also in the car at the time, and survived, officials said.
- In:
- Missing Girl
- Flooding
- Flash Flooding
- Philadelphia
veryGood! (3955)
Related
- Taxpayers could get $500 'inflation refund' checks under New York proposal: What to know
- Truth Social’s stock price is soaring. It’s not just Trump supporters buying in.
- What is Good Friday? What the holy day means for Christians around the world
- Where is Marquette University? What to know about Sweet 16 school's location and more
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Follow Your Dreams
- Four students arrested and others are suspended following protest at Vanderbilt University
- Four students arrested and others are suspended following protest at Vanderbilt University
- Bridgerton Season 3 Clip Teases Penelope and Colin’s Steamy Mirror Scene
- Chiquis comes from Latin pop royalty. How the regional Mexican star found her own crown
- This is Urban Outfitters' Best Extra 40% Off Sale Yet: $3 Cardigans, $18 Hoodies & More
Ranking
- The burial site of the people Andrew Jackson enslaved was lost. The Hermitage says it is found
- Draymond Green ejected less than four minutes into Golden State Warriors' game Wednesday
- Last coal-burning power plant in New England set to close in a win for environmentalists
- Home Depot buying supplier to professional contractors in a deal valued at about $18.25B
- Travis Kelce Praises Taylor Swift For Making Eras Tour "Best In The World"
- Baltimore bridge tragedy shows America's highway workers face death on the job at any time
- Draymond Green ejected less than four minutes into Golden State Warriors' game Wednesday
- Biden administration unveils new rules for federal government's use of artificial intelligence
Recommendation
-
ParkMobile $32.8 million settlement: How to join class
-
Judge forges ahead with pretrial motions in Georgia election interference case
-
What caused the Dali to slam into Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge? What we know about what led up to the collapse
-
Iowa's Patrick McCaffery, son of Hawkeyes coach Fran McCaffery, enters transfer portal
-
Save 30% on the Perfect Spongelle Holiday Gifts That Make Every Day a Spa Day
-
This is how reporters documented 1,000 deaths after police force that isn’t supposed to be fatal
-
For-profit school accused of preying on Black students reaches $28.5 million settlement
-
This woman's take on why wives stop having sex with their husbands went viral. Is she right?