Missing Allentown 5-year-old boy found dead in Lehigh Canal

The frantic search for an autisticboy over New Year’s came to a tragic end Saturday when his body was recovered by police.

Jayliel Vega Batista, 5, was found on Saturday after investigators traced an electronic tablet he had with him when he went missing, the Allentown Morning Call reported.

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The boy was last seen about 11 p.m. on New Year’s Eve running into a wooded area near South Aubrey Street and East South streets without shoes, socks or a coat.

Crews of searchers hunted for Jayliel for two days before finding his body.

The boy is believed to have wandered into the waterof the Lehigh Canal, which was about 39 degrees and 6 feet deep, after he ran away on Thursday.

Searchers found a red-and-white electronic tablet designed for children in the water at Canal Park on Saturday around 1 p.m., according to the Morning Call.

Searchers then concentrated their efforts on the canal, leading to the discovery of Jayliel’sbody about an hour later.

Police called Jayliel’s death a “tragic accident.”