Missing 5-Year-Old Boy Found Dead in Texas Lake, Authorities Say

The body of Edward Hall was discovered shortly before 2 a.m. on Monday in a lake near his home in Katy, Texas, officials said.

Audrey Simons

Published: 7/20/2026, 5:34:16 PM EDT

Missing 5-Year-Old Boy Found Dead in Texas Lake, Authorities Say — Body of water near the 3800 block of Ryans Rock Court in Katy, Texas, in December 2024. (Google Maps/Screenshot via NTD)

The search for a 5-year-old boy has ended after the child was found dead in a lake near his home in southeast Texas hours after he was reported missing, authorities said.

The body of Edward Hall was discovered shortly before 2 a.m. on Monday by Texas EquuSearch Search & Recovery crews following an overnight search, the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office shared in an update.

Officials have provided differing timelines for when the boy was last seen. The sheriff's office said he was last seen Sunday afternoon on the 3800 block of Ryans Rock Court in the city of Katy, while an Amber Alert issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety listed his last known sighting as being 5 a.m. on Sunday.

A spokesperson for the sheriff's office told NTD via email Monday that Edward was found in a large pond directly north of the Katy subdivision where the boy lived, which is located just outside of Houston.

According to the Amber Alert, Edward was wearing black pants and a black T-shirt featuring Elmo on the front without any shoes at the time he went missing. During the search, anyone with information about the child's whereabouts was urged to contact the sheriff's office directly or call 911.

Officials said the boy's family was notified after his body was located. Authorities have not provided any additional details about the circumstances surrounding Edward's death. ABC 13 Eyewitness News reported that the child was autistic and non-verbal. However, the sheriff's office did not confirm these reports, telling NTD that the department is unable to release medical information for any victims.

The sheriff's office said there were no signs of foul play at this point in the investigation, though investigators are still looking into the case.

An official cause of death has not yet been released. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the second most common cause of accidental death among children ages 5 and 14. The agency also reports that drowning is the leading cause of death for children between the ages of 1 and 4.

In the wake of the boy's death, the sheriff's office thanked search and rescue crews for their efforts and also extended condolences to the child's loved ones.

"The Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office extends its sincere gratitude to Texas EquuSearch Search & Recovery for its invaluable assistance and partnership throughout the search efforts," the department said. "Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Edward's family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time."