Fort Pierce Police Department confirmed that Mayra Glory Odelus, a 5‑year‑old nonverbal autistic girl, was found dead in a pond near her home on Saturday afternoon. The child was last seen at 11:39 a.m. in the 5100 block of the Portofino Landing Apartments, east of Interstate 95, before she disappeared.
Maj. Michael Santiago told WPBF that officers immediately launched a search using drones, flyers, and a diving team from the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office. Port St. Lucie bloodhounds were also called in to assist. The pond where Mayra’s body was recovered is located about 75 yards from her apartment, directly across from the building, according to her father.
Mayra was wearing a dark oversized shirt with two white beads in her hair when she went missing. Her father and 18‑year‑old sister were home at the time; her mother, who lives in Haiti, is expected to arrive Sunday.
Police noted that Mayra’s tablet was pinged during the search, leading rescuers to the area, though the device itself was not recovered. “One of the interesting things about this is that she actually had a tablet with her and the family was able to ping the tablet to try and locate where she was,” Santiago said.
Dr. Elizabeth Feldman of Cleveland Clinic Florida explained to WPBF that drowning can occur in seconds, noting, “Drowning can really happen in 20 seconds, 30 seconds, and you can even start to get brain injury because of the lack of oxygen within minutes.” She added that drowning remains the leading cause of unintentional death among children ages 1‑3.
The Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach reported that 39 children with autism or suspected autism drowned in Florida in 2025, the highest number ever recorded in the state.
Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Mayra’s death and are asking anyone with additional information to contact the Fort Pierce Police Department. Community leaders are urging families, especially those with children who have special needs, to take extra precautions around water hazards.
What’s next: The investigation remains open. Authorities will hold a press conference later this week to update the public, and local safety officials plan to distribute water‑safety resources to families in the Port St. Lucie area.
Sources: wpbf.com
