NORTH PORT, FL (WWSB) - An autopsy will be conducted Wednesday to determine the cause of death of a 20-month-old girl who went missing from her North Port home and was found dead in a canal a half mile away.
Ava Natalia Perry went missing from her home around 10:15am on Tuesday. Police say she was playing in the backyard of her home in the 8500 block of Alam Avenue with a "slightly older" sibling, who police say is "around 3," who notified her parents when she went missing. Police were called to the scene around an hour later when the girl's mother called 911.
Police immediately began an aggressive search, with a helicopter in the air, marine units in the water, two K9 units and multiple agencies. The search focused on the canal behind the girl's home, which police describe as "fast moving" and "aggressive."
Ava was found in the canal around 1pm on Tuesday. She was about a half mile from her home, which police say was a result of the speed of the water of the canal.
She was taken from the scene to the hospital and though police say life-saving measures were undertaken, Ava passed away at 1:20pm.
North Port Police say this is still a "very, very active investigation" but they are working this case as a tragic accident.
Police are working with the Department of Children and Families, as the case involves a child, and say at this time they are withholding details on how this transpired and the timeline in this case.
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