Body of missing autistic girl found in Northern California creek

The body of a missing 9-year-old autistic girl was found Wednesday in a Northern California creek, authorities said.

A dive team found Mikaela Lynch’s body in Cache Creek, not far from her family’s Clearlake vacation home, The Press Democrat reported.

The severely autistic San Francisco girl had been missing since Mother’s Day, when she slipped out of a fenced backyard while briefly left unattended, the newspaper reported. The girl, who authorities said couldn’t speak and had the mental capacity of a toddler, had been playing on a trampoline with her younger brother.

She apparently left her clothes behind and was barefoot, the newspaper said.

Authorities said foul play was not suspected.

Dozens of searchers scoured the Lake County community by air and boat, with dive teams and water cadaver dogs looking for signs of the girl. The search expanded to include the neighborhood after a neighbor’s surveillance video showed the direction in which Mikaela was running, the girl’s godfather told the San Francisco Chronicle.

Mike Dowling described his god daughter as a “sweetheart.”

“She loves running, playing,” he told the Chronicle. “Extremely gregarious. Just a great laugh, a fantastic laugh.”

ALSO:

Kern County sheriff ‘cannot speculate’ on deputies’ actions

‘Most vicious’ L.A. leads nation in dog attacks on postal carriers

Leila Fowler’s brother charged with murder: He’s ‘quiet and reserved’

Twitter: @katemather | Google+
kate.mather@latimes.com