Nonverbal boy, 6, vanishes, dies after falling in neighbor’s pool, IN cops say

A 6-year-old boy with autism who vanished from his Indiana home was discovered to have drowned in his neighbor’s pool, authorities say.

Officers with the St. Joseph County Police Department began looking for Joshua Nizigiyimana around 8:40 p.m. Friday, June 20, when the boy left his Granger home.

A search was initiated for the nonverbal boy, who was found about 20 minutes later unresponsive in the pool of his neighbor’s home, police said. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A preliminary investigation indicated Joshua died from an accidental drowning, according to a June 23 news release.

Sheriff Bill Redman described the boy’s death as “an unimaginable loss.”

Joshua attended Horizon Elementary School, where officials described him as a “beloved member” of the community.

“He was a bright light in many of our lives — full of joy and kindness,” Horizon Elementary PTO said. “Joshua touched the hearts of classmates, teachers, and families alike.”

According to an obituary, the kindergartner had two siblings and had a love for some of life’s simplest and purest joys.

“Joshua loved music, especially playing the drums and he loved flowers,” the obituary said. “He loved to play with tennis balls, jumping on the trampoline and always liked to play on the playground on the slides.”

Granger is about a 100-mile drive southeast from Chicago.

This story was originally published June 25, 2025 at 11:24 AM with the headline "Nonverbal boy, 6, vanishes, dies after falling in neighbor’s pool, IN cops say."