Missing girl, 4, found dead in neighbour’s swimming pool after being left with siblings, 11 & 15, while mum was out
A MISSING four-year-old girl who disappeared while playing near her home has been found dead in a neighbour’s swimming pool following a frantic overnight search.
Eloise Eloá Cordeiro Alves vanished on Wednesday afternoon after her mum left the house – sparking a frantic recovery operation.
She had last been seen around the property in Brazil’s Santa Lúcia community in Imbariê, Rio de Janeiro.
Her mum had gone to drop off the child’s grandmother at hospital.
The youngster had been left in the care of her two older siblings, aged 15 and 11.
After failing to find her, panicked relatives and neighbours combed through the area overnight and also checked nearby hospitals.
A neighbour told the family the following morning that he had found Eloise’s body floating in his swimming pool.
The girl’s uncle identified her body.
Police and firefighters rushed to the scene before removing Eloise from the water.
Her uncle said the family wanted answers over exactly how she died.
He said: “Only the police, the autopsy and the forensic examination can say what really happened, whether she was abused or drowned.”
Local authorities have ruled out the possibility of foul play.
Cops said the investigation remains ongoing.
Forensic officers examined the scene while Eloise’s body was taken to the Institute of Forensic Medicine for a post-mortem examination.
The report is expected to be released within 30 days.
It comes after a 12-year-old girl died after her hair got stuck in a pool’s suction system, trapping her underwater.
Laura Pereira Camargo was swimming with friends in Mirassol, Brazil, when she suddenly became stuck.
Emergency services arrived at the scene and Laura was rushed to a local clinic.
Doctors fought to save her but nothing could be done.
