Missing 5-year-old Florida boy has been found dead, mother arrested: Police

*This is a developing story and will be updated as additional details become available.*

The body of a missing 5-year-old Florid boy has been found in a lake and his mother is now facing charges.

According to the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office, 5-year-old Chance Peterkin, and his mother, Philletta Moransit, 29, were reported missing on Thursday at around 6 p.m. Authorities said they were last seen at around 9 a.m. Thursday morning while walking down Purcell Street in Avon Park.

Authorities found Moransit at the South Florida State College a little before 8 p.m. on Thursday. Police said she was being uncooperative and the boy was not with her, Fox 10 reports.

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We have some tragic news. The body of 5-year-old Chance Peterkin was located in the water of Lake Lelia. Sheriff Paul…

Posted by Highlands County Sheriff's Office on Thursday, July 23, 2020

At around 12:20 a.m. on Friday morning, while on a boat searching for the boy, Sheriff Paul Blackman located Chance’s body in the waters of Lake Lelia. Authorities had been focusing on the area after finding some of Moransit’s clothing at the scene.

According to online jail records, Moransit was arrested and charged with child neglect with great bodily harm and resisting arrest/obstruction. Additional charges could follow.

Check back for updates.

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