Santa Catarina authorities recover body of missing 4-year-old boy

The body of 4-year-old Antônio Carlos Gomes Teixeira, who had autism spectrum disorder (ASD), was recovered by the Santa Catarina Fire Department near Ituporanga. The child was found approximately 14 kilometers downstream from the location where he was last seen.

Search operations began after security footage showed the boy was last seen at 12:35 p.m. on a Sunday. The search involved multiple teams, including military firefighters, volunteer firefighters, divers, and search dogs. Rescuers utilized three boats and conducted ground searches covering 2 kilometers of the riverbanks, inspecting a total of 30 kilometers of the river channel.

The family's residence is located roughly 20 meters from the left bank of the Itajaí do Sul River. Following the discovery, the case has been handed over to the Scientific Police for forensic procedures.