CABARRUS COUNTY -- A child missing from a care center was found Sunday, and after being rushed to the Intensive Care Unit of CMC-University, is now dead.

According to the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office, the 10-year old “disabled, autism child resident of the [Howell Care Center] walked away from the facility.”

After a ground search that included members of the facility, the Sheriff’s Office other departments, the child was discovered “in a small branch feeding into a pond on property adjacent to the center.”

CPR was administered to the child, who was then transported to the hospital. He died a few hours later.

“An internal review is underway, and we are making all the required notifications of this tragic event,” said Sam Hedrick, president of Howell Care Centers. “Our efforts are also focused on supporting this individual’s family, and the staff at the center who have become his second family.”

News 14 Carolina has a crew on the scene. Stay tuned for the latest updates and information on this story as it becomes available.