Missing Randolph County boy found dead after days-long search

Authorities found the body of a 7-year-old boy who went missing over the weekend.

Liam King was found dead in a pond, the Randolph County Sheriff's Office said on Tuesday afternoon. The office said the discovery was made about a tenth of a mile from where he was staying. 

"I wish we had positive information to give you," said Randolph County Sheriff Greg Seabolt on Tuesday. "Hopefully, we can learn something from this and be better next time. Our goal was to find him alive and we did not achieve that goal." 

Seabolt said authorities sent the body to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Raleigh. The investigation will take several weeks to determine what exactly happened. King was in the care of his mother's boyfriend when he disappeared, according to Seabolt.

"Anytime you deal with a child, you become somewhat emotional," Seabolt said. "You know we all have kids. I got grandkids, and you put yourself in that position. This child had a life to live and it was taken away from him."

Seabolt said it's too early to determine if authorities will press charges.

King, who officials said was nonverbal, was last seen around 11 a.m. Sunday at his home near Forest Hills Drive in Asheboro. Officials said Liam walked away from the area.