Missing Boy Found Dead in Pool

Durham, N.C. — A young boy with mental disabilities was found dead Sunday evening in Durham County.

Joshua Bullock Jr. was last seen around 1 p.m. at a home on Wendell Road.

Law enforcement officers searched on the ground and in the air for the 6-year-old boy. He had Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), was bipolar and slightly, mentally disabled, authorities said.

“We want to see if we can't locate him as soon as possible,” Det. L.E. Kelly, with the Durham County Sheriff's Office, told WRAL as search crews combed a wooded area near the 5000 block of Wendell Road.

His body was found at about 6:15 p.m. about 60 yards away from the house he was reported missing from, authorities said.

Joshua had fallen into a swimming pool that was about half full with murky water, covered in leaves.

“He was located by one of our search and recovery guys at the bottom of an old swimming pool,” Kelly said.

Joshua and his father were visiting friends in Durham County when he disappeared.

“The dad mentioned that he took him inside the house for a moment and he went to put something down and once he came back, he noticed that the sliding glass patio door was open and ajar a little bit,” Kelly said.

Authorities said they are still working to piece together exactly how this tragedy happened.

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Latest Comments

Just got home from class. So glad that WRAL decided to remove the movie. My heart breaks for this father and the rest of the family. I've thought about them the whole day, replayin the video in my head of the father receiving the news of his son. My prayers are with them. God has gained another beautiful angel!!

Carolinagirl75 Have you mentioned your situation with WRAL?

1simplegirl
March 17, 2008 9:02 p.m.

I thank God for the 6 years He gifted this family with their child. I pray they will find comfort and peace. God bless them.

atozca
March 17, 2008 5:05 p.m.

This is not nearly as bad as showing the video of the father, but anytime I watch WRAL, and they show their Sky 5 commercials, I get to see my house burn down again!! and again!! and again!! Our house was one of the ones that burned down in Rolesville in August, and we still get to see it nearly everyday...it's just ridiculous... my deepest sympathies to the family...what a horrible tragedy, and to have it aired...sickening

carolinagirl75
March 17, 2008 4:57 p.m.

There is a double fencing ordinance in Durham for pools. After a certain year all pools are required to have one fence around the yard and then another fence around the pool.

Tyler
March 17, 2008 4:47 p.m.

Another sad story indeed. I heard it on WRAL, but I was not able to see the video. Based on what everyone is writing, it was indeed poor taste fro WRAL to interview the dad. We have seen too much of this of late.

A fence with a locked door is a must with small children. My heart and prayers are with the family members. God Bless the child.