2-year-old boy dies after fall into nearby swimming pool

FRENCHVILLE — A 2-year-old Madawaska boy who was found at the bottom of a swimming pool Sunday afternoon died Monday morning at Edmundston Regional Hospital.

An autopsy conducted late Monday afternoon by the state Medical Examiner’s Office found the boy had died of drowning.

Maine State Police Detective James Madore said that David Conley IV, the son of David Conley III and Nora Picard of Madawaska, was visiting at his grandmother’s house in Frenchville Sunday afternoon. Many people were at Pauline Picard’s house doing some painting.

Madore said that sometime between 2 and 2:30 p.m., people noticed that the child was missing. After about a 10-minute search, the boy was found by his mother at the bottom of a neighbor’s swimming pool, owned by Michael and Beth Pelletier.

Madore said the 24-foot round pool was covered by a solar blanket. The body was in an area off a small platform at one end. Four steps led to the platform. No one was home at the time of the incident, Madore said.

An uncle, Michael Cyr, initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and an ambulance took the boy to the hospital. Police said the boy seemed to be doing better during the early evening hours, but he was pronounced dead at 3 a.m. Monday.

The body was flown to Augusta for the autopsy Monday afternoon. Madore said the investigation was continuing Monday night.