Investigators say surveillance video shows the boys reaching a retention pond shortly before their mother began searching for them.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Two young brothers found dead in a retention pond after they disappeared from their Daytona Beach apartment drowned in what police believe was an accident, with surveillance video helping investigators reconstruct the final minutes before their deaths.
Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said 5-year-old Elijah Hawkins and 3-year-old Kashh Williams left their apartment with the family dog Oct. 10 while their mother was taking a short nap. Police said the boys apparently managed to get past a child safety lock on the apartment door. Their bodies were later recovered from a nearby retention pond after authorities launched a search.
Young said investigators reviewed surveillance video from the area as they examined how the children left the home and reached the pond. According to the police timeline, the boys were seen playing near the water at about 5:57 p.m. Elijah became submerged at about 6:02 p.m., and Kashh became submerged about a minute later.
Their mother appears on surveillance video at about 6:06 p.m., according to police. Young said she was calling for the family dog and searching for the children. A call reporting the boys missing was made to police at about 6:19 p.m., roughly 22 minutes after the children were first seen near the pond and 17 minutes after Elijah became submerged.
Young said the timing was significant because the children were already underwater before officers knew they were missing. Police initially issued an alert seeking the public’s help after the boys were reported missing near North Clyde Morris Boulevard. Their bodies were found in a pond near the apartment complex early the following morning.
Police said their investigation found no obvious signs of foul play. Young said officers also examined the apartment and found food and a generally comfortable living environment. Based on the evidence gathered so far, he described the deaths as an extremely tragic accident.
Authorities have not announced any criminal charges. Young said investigators forwarded the case to the State Attorney’s Office, which will determine whether the circumstances warrant any charges, including whether investigators’ findings support a possible child neglect case. Police have not said that such a charge will be filed.
The police chief also said Elijah was autistic. Investigators have not suggested that his diagnosis caused the drowning, and police have not announced any evidence that another person intentionally harmed either child.
The deaths followed an urgent search that began after the boys were reported missing Saturday evening. Police had initially said the children were last seen walking in the area near 1361 N. Clyde Morris Blvd. Authorities asked the public for help locating them before later announcing that both had been found dead in a nearby pond.
The case remained with the State Attorney’s Office as of Tuesday. Police have described the deaths as accidental based on their investigation while leaving any decision about possible charges to prosecutors.
Author note: Last updated October 13, 2026.