Name: Jordan Payne
Died: February 10, 2002
Age at death: 5
Cause of death: Drowning
Location: Pompano Beach, Florida, USA
Details:
Even though he was both deaf and autistic, Jordan liked being with people. If someone took his hand, he would follow them. He would run to greet people when he saw them.
Jordan went to play at a canal across the street from his father's house (his parents were separated, and he was staying with his father that weekend)–but he never came home. His body was found the next day in the canal. A neighbor boy told the police that Jordan had been pushed into the canal by a 17-year-old neighbor, who then held his head under the water until he drowned.
The neighbor, who was himself disabled, was charged as an adult and convicted of manslaughter. No motive has been reported.
References:
Autistic drowning in Florida
Autistic boy's death still a mystery
Police arrest 17-year-old in Drowning Death of Autistic Boy
Teen charged as adult in autistic boy's death
Mother testifies in case of drowned autistic boy
Teen guilty of manslaughter in drowning death of autistic boy
Jordan Payne
