Newburyport Fire Chief Christopher LeClaire and City Marshal Mark Murray, Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett and Massachusetts State Police Colonel Christopher Mason announce that a body believed to be that of the missing 6-year-old boy who was the subject of a multi-agency search and recovery operation since Thursday has been recovered.
A kayaker operating in the Pipers Quarry area of the Merrimack River located what is believed to be the body of 6-year-old Mas DeChhat, who had been missing since he entered the water during his family’s recreational visit to Deer Island on Thursday, June 12. His mother, Boua DeChhat, 29, valiantly tried to save him and lost her life in doing so.
The body will be turned over to the office of the State’s Chief Medical Examiner for positive identification.
Newburyport Police and Fire, the Essex County District Attorney’s Office and the Massachusetts State Police wish to acknowledge the many municipal, state and federal agencies that responded and contributed to this search and recovery operation including the Boston Fire Department Dive Team, Massachusetts Environmental Police, United States Coast Guard, Massachusetts Department of Fire Servies, Cataldo Ambulance, Seacoast Chief Fire Officers Mutual Aid District, Newbury, West Newbury, Salisbury and Amesbury Harbormasters and Amesbury and Salisbury Police and the Amesbury, Merrimac, Salisbury, Haverhill and East Kingston, N.H. fire departments.
Police and Fire Marine Units, State Police and Boston Fire dive teams and Harbormasters searched the river aggressively over the past four days. The joint search teams and first responders together send their deepest sympathies and condolences to the DeChhat family.
Any additional inquiries should be directed to the Essex County District Attorney’s Office.
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