Bobby Kennedy great-grandson’s body found after drowning in Chesapeake Bay

Crews found the body of former Maryland Lt Gov Kathleen Kennedy Townsend’s 8-year-old grandson on Wednesday nearly a week after he and his mother disappeared during an impromptu canoe outing to retrieve a ball from Chesapeake Bay, WBAL reported.

Police found Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean’s body late Monday afternoon. Gideon McKean’s body was found in about 25 feet of water about 2,000 feet from where his mother was found, also in about 25 feet of water.

McKean, the 40-year-old grandaughter of Robert F. Kennedy, and her son were at her mother’s home on Thursday when a ball was kicked into the bay. She and Gideon hopped into a canoe to retrieve it, but appear to have been unable to handle the strong currents, as CrimeOnline previously reported.

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A witness called police Thursday evening and reported seeing boaters in distress. On Friday, searchers found their overturned canoe, and Townsend posted on Facebook that they were presumed dead. Her son-in-law, David McKean, also posted on Friday.

“They got into a canoe, intending simply to retrieve the ball, and somehow got pushed by wind or tide into the open bay. About 30 minutes later they were spotted by an onlooker from land, who saw them far out from shore, and called the police,” he wrote.

Maeve McKean’s body was found about 2 1/2 miles south of her mother’s home.

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[Feature image: Maeve Townsend McKean and Gideon McKean/Facebook]