Conrad Sheils missing after Pennsylvania flash flood.Photo:Upper Wakefield Police Department/Facebook
Upper Wakefield Police Department/Facebook
The search for Conrad Sheils, the 9-month-old boy who was swept away during flash flooding in southeast Pennsylvania earlier this month has come to an end, according to police.
“At this point, we have exhausted all means of attempting to locate Conrad,” the Upper Makefield Township Police Department said in a statement posted onFacebookon Wednesday. With broken hearts, we regretfully announce that the active search for Conrad has concluded.”
The department added that Sheils’ family “would like to express their deepest gratitude for all those involved in the search efforts” and acknowledged the “outpouring of love, support, and kind words” from the public “during this extremely difficult time.”
“Like all of you, we are truly heartbroken and saddened,” the statement continued. “Although, at this time, we were unable to reunite Conrad with his loving family, he will forever live in our hearts and he will never be forgotten.”
Conrad Sheils and Katie Seley.Upper Wakefield Police Department/Facebook
The police statement also detailed how authorities had “conducted a massive search effort that involved hundreds of personnel, drones, boats, K9’s, divers, sonar, and air assets,” and noted the tragic deaths of the victims of the flash flood, as well as their efforts to find the child. Conrad’s mother Katie Seley and sister Matilda “Mattie” Sheils were also killed in the floods.“We lost 7 precious lives, 6 of whom were returned to their families. 9-month-old Conrad was still missing and we continued exhaustive search efforts to bring him home,” it read.
The statement continued, “Since the weekend, we have had marine units checking the Delaware River, including along the banks of the river on both the PA and New Jersey sides. Since the beginning and throughout the search, we notified agencies up and down the Delaware all the way to Marcus Hook of our efforts. We were able to get divers in the water and cleared the areas that were outstanding. We utilized K9 teams and checked the islands in the Delaware River and along the banks of the river as well.”
AsPEOPLEpreviously reported, the body of 2-year-old Mattie was discovered last week amid the flash floods in Pennsylvania.
Matilda and Conrad Sheils.Matilda Sheils/GoFundMe
Matilda Sheils/GoFundMe
The toddler was pronounced deceased and transported to the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office, the Upper Makefield Township Police Department said in astatementon Facebook.
“We are so appreciative of the 911 callers who spotted Mattie and for the Philadelphia Police and Fire Departments all of whom helped us bring Mattie home,” the statement said. “This has been an extremely intense and emotional time for the family, for our first responders, and for the community and I know all our hearts are broken this evening.”
32-year-old Seley — the children’s mother — wasalso killed in the Pennsylvania floods.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories
According to CNN, Katie’s fiancé Jim Shelis grabbed his eldest son, 4-year-old Jack, and both of them made it to safety, while Katie and the two younger children were swept away.
The flood also took the children’s grandmother, but she survived and was treated at a hospital, CNN reported.
“This is a devastating blow to this Bucks County community,” Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said at the press conference. “We are all here. This is a moment for all of us to come together. The 13 million people in Pennsylvania are here with you and praying with you.”
source: people.com
