Divers from the Massachusetts State Police believe they have recovered the body of a 7-year-old girl from Lowell who went missing on Sunday. The extensive search involved police, community members, K9 units, ATVs, helicopters, a drone, and ultimately, divers. The body, believed to be that of Anna Mburu, was found in the Merrimack River in Tewksbury on Monday. While authorities suspect it is the missing child, official confirmation of identity and cause of death will come from the Chief Medical Examiner. No signs of foul play were immediately evident.
Anna, who was on the autism spectrum and nonverbal, was reported missing Sunday afternoon. It remains unclear how she entered the river. The search was hampered by the river's conditions; recent rain had swollen the Merrimack to approximately four feet above its normal level, creating a swift current. Sonar technology was instrumental in locating the child's body, which was moving downstream.
