Following the ‘tragic event’, police have released a significant ‘reminder’ to the public.
Jacob Baer, a seven-year-old, was reported missing on November 30. His parents ‘lost sight of him’ while he was outside playing near 1818 School St in Wisconsin.
The Two Rivers Police Department detailed on Facebook that an ‘immediate search’ was initiated for Jacob, who was on the autism spectrum. The search extended throughout the night, accompanied by a Missing and Endangered Alert alongside a local alert, both issued via the Emergency Operations Center.
Captain Andrew Raatz stated: “Search efforts located several items belonging to Jacob and they were recovered from the water last night.”
By early December 1, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources had pinpointed ‘a possible location, in five to six feet of water, for what was believed to be Jacob’ in the West Twin River in Two Rivers.
Continuing through the morning of December 1, recovery efforts led to the discovery of a body, which was confirmed to be Jacob Baer.
The statement expressed: “Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Jacob Baer.”
The department extended gratitude to various agencies for their assistance, mentioning ‘Two Rivers Fire Dept, Town of Two Rivers Fire Dept, Two Rivers Parks and Recreation Dept, Two Rivers Dept of Public Works, Manitowoc PD, Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office, Mishicot PD, Brillion PD, Green Bay PD, De Pere PD, Manitowoc County Dispatch, Manitowoc County Emergency Management, Manitowoc County Coroner’s Office, Manitowoc County District Attorney’s Office, Wisconsin Crime Alert Network, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), WI Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin K9 SOS Search and Rescue, Brown County Sheriff’s Office, WI State Patrol, the US Coast Guard, WI Army National Guard and Kwik Trip’.
The community was also thanked for its ‘support, patience and search efforts’.
The statement concluded with a caution: “This tragic event is a reminder of how dangerous the ice can be on our waterways, especially this time of year when it is very thin. Please stay off the ice and keep your children safe by monitoring them closely when around any waterway.
“We also ask that you respect the family’s right to privacy. This incident is still under investigation and no further information will be released at this time.”
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact The Compassionate Friends at (877) 969-0010.