VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – The body of 12-year-old Juan Sebastian Mejia Acevedo, the subject of a recent AMBER Alert, was discovered in a pond near the 200 block of Mica Avenue on Monday morning. The pond, located close to the apartment complex where Juan was last seen, became a focus of search efforts after days of investigation.
Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate confirmed the tragic discovery during a press conference. “Utilizing new sonar technology, we recovered a body approximately eight feet underwater that matches the physical and clothing descriptions of Juan Acevedo,” Neudigate stated. While the medical examiner has yet to confirm the official identification, Virginia State Police have canceled the AMBER Alert, announcing that the missing juvenile has been located.
Juan’s disappearance was reported Friday evening after he failed to return home from what his parents believed was a visit to a friend’s house. Concern grew when the family received ransom demands via social media. Though a $500 payment was made, no further communication followed. Authorities have not yet determined whether the ransom messages were genuine or part of a hoax, but they are treating the case as a potential abduction pending further investigation.
The search for Juan included extensive efforts by local law enforcement and community volunteers. Chief Neudigate explained that the decision to search the pond was precautionary. “We had no specific intelligence that this might be an area of interest,” he said. “We were simply being thorough and leaving no stone unturned.”
The cause of Juan’s death remains unclear, and an autopsy will be conducted by the medical examiner to determine whether foul play was involved. In the meantime, investigators are continuing to probe both the circumstances surrounding Juan’s disappearance and the legitimacy of the ransom threats received by his family.
“This is a devastating loss for Juan’s family and our community,” Chief Neudigate said, extending condolences. He emphasized that the Virginia Beach Police Department is committed to uncovering the truth.
Authorities urge anyone with information about Juan’s disappearance or the ransom threats to come forward. Tips can be provided to the Virginia Beach Police Department or anonymously through Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.