8-Year-Old South Carolina Boy Drowns After Running from School
A tragic incident unfolded in Simpsonville, South Carolina, after an 8-year-old second grader, Lionel Ramirez Cervantes, was found dead in a nearby pond following his disappearance from school on September 12, 2024.
Lionel was a student at Bells Crossing Elementary School. According to initial reports, he was last seen around 11 a.m. on the school campus before suddenly running away. At the time, he had been accompanied by two other students and three staff members. Despite attempts by the staff to pursue him, Lionel managed to leave the school grounds and disappeared from sight.
A Desperate Search Ends in Tragedy
The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office quickly launched a search operation. In a public update issued at 2:10 p.m., authorities stated that Lionel was still missing and asked the public to refrain from conducting their own searches on foot, as scent-tracking dogs were being used. Instead, they urged residents to check their private property and home security footage for any signs of Lionel’s movement.
Sadly, just two hours later, at 4:12 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office confirmed the heartbreaking news that Lionel’s body had been discovered.
“The GCSO is heartbroken to report that 8-year-old Lionel Ramirez Cervantes, who ran off from Bells Crossing Elementary School, has been located in a body of water off Lenox Lake Drive, a short distance from the school,” the department posted on Facebook.
They added that Lionel had last been seen near the school playground at approximately 11:10 a.m. Despite an extensive search and rescue effort throughout the day, it was a member of the dive team who ultimately recovered his body just after 3:00 p.m. Victim assistance coordinators were made available to support Lionel’s grieving family.
A Mother’s Grief
Lionel’s mother, Dalia Cervantes—a single mother of five—shared her heartbreak in a sorrowful message posted to social media.
“Today I received a call from Lionel’s school that he went missing. A few hours later he was found in a nearby creek,” she wrote. “I know he is now in a better place, with his dad. But my boy did not have to lose his life this way.”
She went on to express her frustration and sorrow, pointing to what she called negligence as the cause of her son’s death.
“Negligence caused his death. Now I am left without my Leo. I do want to thank everybody who has taken their time to send me and my kids condolences and support. I saw the video, and it does not justify their actions.”
Remembering Lionel
Lionel Ramirez Cervantes is being remembered as a sweet and curious child whose life ended far too soon. His tragic passing has left a community in mourning and raised serious questions about school safety and supervision.