SAN FRANCISCO—Searchers discovered the body of 9-year-old Mikaela Lynch on Wednesday, May 15 in a creek near the Highlands Harbor neighborhood in Clearlake.
Lynch, who was autistic and had the mental capacity of a 1-year-old, was last seen playing on a trampoline with her younger brother in the backyard of her family’s vacation home on Harbor Drive on Sunday, May 12 around 1:30 p.m.
When her younger brother ran inside to get away from a bee, Lynch was left alone, according to authorities.
Clearlake Police Chief Craig Clausen said the girl’s body was found in Cache Creek by dive team members just before noon on Wednesday. Preliminary observation suggests that Lynch wandered into the creek and that foul play was not a factor.
Searchers had been combing the marshes near the Lynch’s vacation home because, according to reports, Mikaela was attracted to water.
According to the National Autism Association, many autistic children are drawn to water, and 91 percent of those found dead in recent years had drowned.
Mikaela’s teacher and six teachers’ aides of the Sunset Elementary School where she attended assisted in the search for her earlier this week.
District spokeswoman Gentle Blythe released the following statement on behalf of Mikaela Lynch and her family:
“Our heart goes out to the family of Mikaela Lynch. The Sunset Elementary community has been eagerly awaiting her safe return and is shocked and saddened by today’s news. The principle will be sharing the news with the school community and has assembled a crisis response team that is prepared to respond to the emotional needs of students.”
Mikaela Lynch has been described as a “sweetheart” with an “ever-present smile and a great laugh” by those who knew her.
By Kyle Maloney
