Search for Missing 7-Year-Old Pearland Girl Ends in Tragedy at Retention Pond

PEARLAND, Texas A search for a missing 7-year-old girl in Pearland ended in tragedy Wednesday afternoon after authorities recovered her body from a nearby retention pond.

Pearland police responded around 9:40 a.m. to the 2000 block of Sunset Springs Drive after receiving a report of a missing child. The child, identified as Skyler Hopson, a nonverbal autistic girl, was believed to have left the home on foot with her iPad.

Officers launched an extensive search effort using multiple resources, including drones, K9 units, search teams, and a helicopter from the Houston Police Department.

K9 units tracked Skyler’s scent to a nearby retention pond, which investigators said matched location pings from her iPad.

At approximately 2:45 p.m., with assistance from the Houston Dive Team, Skyler was recovered from the pond and confirmed deceased at the scene.

Pearland police said the department is devastated by the outcome of the search and expressed condolences to the child’s family.

Authorities also thanked the many agencies and volunteers who assisted in the search, including TEXSAR and its K9 team, as well as Pearland residents who helped with search and surveillance efforts.