HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) - The father of an 11-year-old boy said he jumped into the pool at the Shannon Townhomes on Windowmere Avenue Saturday night in an attempt to find his missing son.
Frederick Fitzgerald Sr. told CBS 6 reporter Tracy Sears the pool was cloudy and he was unable to see the bottom.
Fitzgerald said he was not able to find his son, Frederick “Fred” Fitzgerald Jr. that night.
Neither could police nor fire crews that also searched the pool that night, he said.
Fitzgerald said the next morning, a pool maintenance worker told crews to check the area of the pool around the drain. Fitzgerald said soon thereafter, he was told a body was located.
Frederick “Fred” Fitzgerald Jr.
Police confirmed the body found in the pool is that of 11-year-old Frederick “Fred” Fitzgerald Jr.
Fitzgerald's parents said their son went off with friends around 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
The father said he began to search for his son when he did not return home for curfew. By 10 p.m., the parents said they reported their son missing to police.
Frederick and Nakisha Fitzgerald said their son's friends returned his towel to them Saturday night and said they figured Fred had left the pool without telling anyone.
Leasing agents at the town home complex said there is no lifeguard on duty at the pool, however there is a monitor whose job it is to maintain the pool.
Fred Fitzgerald Jr. attended Wilder Middle School.
A Frederick Fitzgerald Memorial Fund has been established, and all local Wells Fargo Banks are accepting donations.
This is a developing story.
