Body of Missing Riverview Girl Found in Pond

The body of a missing 11-year-old girl with Down syndrome was found in a pond behind Rodgers Middle School, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

After an extensive search by air and land using K-9 dogs, the body of Jennifer Caballero was discovered in deep water in one of two ponds behind the school at about 6:15 p.m. Divers searching the pond found the child in water approximately 12 feet deep and approximately 20 feet from the shore line. The pond has zero visibility.

The pond is surrounded by a 4-foot chain-link fence.

Jennifer Caballero was last seen about 12:30 p.m. in a gymnasium where students were playing basketball at Rodgers Middle, at 11910 Tucker Rd.

The girl was reportedly in the gym with about 20 other children with special needs and was being supervised by a teacher and six aides.

Visibly shaken, Sheriff David Gee told members of the media the investigation ended with the worst possible outcome. The little girl apparently climbed the fence around the pond and drowned.

"It's a terribly sad situation that we find ourselves in," said Gee.

Gee said the sheriff's office is working with school officials to determine the circumstances that led to her disappearance.