Body of Missing 7-Year-Old Liam King Found in Randolph County Pond

ASHEBORO, N.C. (ACME NEWS) — The search for 7-year-old Liam King came to a tragic end Tuesday morning when his body was discovered in a pond less than a tenth of a mile from where he was last seen, according to Randolph County Sheriff Greg Seabolt.
Liam, who had been missing since Sunday morning, was found at approximately 10:15 a.m. by Brunswick County Search and Rescue volunteers. Seabolt confirmed during a 2:30 p.m. press conference that the boy’s body will be sent to the state medical examiner’s office in Chapel Hill to determine the exact cause of death.

“This is not the outcome we expected,” Seabolt said. “Our goal was to find him alive, and we did not achieve that goal. Anytime you deal with a child, you become somewhat emotional. This child had a life to live, and it was taken away.”

The community was holding out hope that the 7-year-old boy who was non-verbal and autistic would be located safe. News about him going missing and the subsequent search dominated headlines across central North Carolina and on social media. The discovery of his body Tuesday morning was a tragic revelation.

Search and Discovery

Authorities said Liam was staying with his mother’s boyfriend at the time of his disappearance, while his mother was away. Seabolt explained that searchers initially focused on a pond located on or near the property after Liam’s cell phone pinged nearby. That pond was drained and searched on Monday.

Search crews noted the surrounding area contains numerous farm ponds, many of which were unfamiliar even to longtime residents until the search began. Poor cell phone coverage in the area added to the challenge, prompting Randolph County Emergency Management to request additional resources from the state. A communications specialist was deployed along with equipment including Starlink satellite internet and mobile cell towers to restore reliable connectivity for search teams.

Liam was later found at a different pond, about 700 feet from the home. Investigators believe he walked down a logging road from the first pond to the second, where his body was discovered near the edge. Both ponds had previously been checked by search teams.

Investigation Underway
The Sheriff's Office says the investigation remains in its early stages, and no cause of death has yet been determined. Seabolt did not rule out the possibility of charges but emphasized that all evidence would be reviewed by the District Attorney.

Seabolt said the mother’s boyfriend was responsible for supervising Liam when he disappeared, though he did not provide further details, citing the active investigation into the incident.

Community Response

In more than 50 hours of searching, over 100 trained personnel with specialized equipment joined agencies across North Carolina, including dive teams, drone units, aviation support, and search-and-rescue volunteers.
“We couldn’t ask for any better support from the neighbors and citizens down in that area, the businesses in southern Randolph County that supported us,” Sheriff Seabolt said. “The number of volunteers that showed up that were experienced in search and rescue… we had them all the way from New Hanover County.”
Reporters asked whether the county might adopt Project Lifesaver, a program that provides trackable bracelets for individuals with autism or cognitive impairments. Sheriff Seabolt noted Randolph County already uses the program for dementia patients and said expanding it could help prevent future tragedies.
“We learned a lot from this,” Seabolt said. “Hopefully we can be better next time.”