ESPY — The extensive search for Aiden Ha ended in tragedy when police pulled his body from the Susquehanna River on Sunday.

Sunday night, the 7-year-old autistic boy was remembered as a child who loved to dance to music, watch the TV show “Bluey” and eat Skittles.

“He was such a lovable kid, he would try to hug you and hold your hand,” said Peggy Vail of Lime Ridge. She works at Wee Little Angels, Lime Ridge, and taught Ha when he when was a toddler. “He had such a cute smile.”

Police found Ha just after noon Sunday, when a State Police helicopter crew spotted something that looked like the orange shirt Ha was last seen in, near New Rosemont Cemetery in the river — about a mile away from his family’s home. A State Police boat went to investigate and recovered Ha’s body, Scott Township Police Chief Joe Grassley said.

Columbia County Coroner Jeremy Reese declared the boy dead. There were no indications of foul play, and an autopsy will not be conducted, Reese said.

“We didn’t want this to happen. Our next search was going to the mountain across the river if we couldn’t find him in the river,” Grassley said.

More than 200 people attended a vigil at Central Columbia Elementary School Sunday evening for Ha.

Saturday’s search

On Saturday, police, firefighters and more than 100 volunteers joined in a large-scale search to find Ha. That included drone teams, helicopters, rescue boats and canine units, covering a wide area from South Centre Township to Bloomsburg.

That search offered the first indication Ha may have gone to the river. According to Scott Township Police Sgt. Eli Middaugh, a tracking dog first detected Ha’s scent on Saturday morning, following it from Ha’s home at 2894 Old Berwick Road, down to the riverbank and into the water.

Dogs track scent

The State Police bloodhound, along with Overlook’s canine, tracked the same scent to the same general area Saturday evening, Middaugh said.

Throughout the day, the Montour County drone team searched the riverbanks, and rescue boats from Bloomsburg, Berwick and Mahoning Township fire departments searched the river and the islands, he said. Then, on Sunday morning, the Pennsylvania Canine Search and Rescue team went to the home and followed the same scent to the river, Middaugh said.

Rescue crews began their search of the river at 10 a.m. Sunday with the Montour County Drone Team, along with the Pennsylvania State Police and State Game Commission employees. State Police air, canine and patrols units helped with the search, along with fire crews from Bloomsburg and Espy.

The search ended with the discovery of Ha.

“This was a tremendous coordinated effort with all the resources that we had available from all over the state. We used everything from boots on the ground to air units, marine units, drones and canines,” Middaugh said.

Local companies also pitched in: JP’s Cold Cuts provided food for the rescue crews on Saturday. Meanwhile, Starr Portable Toilets, Millville, donated movable restrooms for the search efforts on both Saturday and Sunday, according to Fire Chief Ken Carey.

Searchers also involved Ha’s teachers to better understand his behavior and preferences in an effort to find him safely.

The vigil

At 6:30 p.m., more than 200 people attended a vigil in the parking lot of Central Columbia Elementary School to pray for the Ha family and remember their son. There were tables set up in front of the school where people created cards that were given to the family.

At the entrance of the school, lit candles, Bluey stuffed animals and Skittles surrounded a photo of Ha on a memorial table.

“Our community stepped up and came together to show love for the Ha family. It’s just been an incredible display of support,” said Jeff Groshek, Central Columbia School District Superintendent.

Throughout the night, people hugged the Ha family and gave their condolences as they mourned the loss of the child.

“You can’t fix it, you can’t make it right, but we can find hope in scripture, and we can find hope and encouragement in one another,” said Brad Travelpiece, pastor of LCBC Church.

He led the crowd through a moment of silence, followed by scripture readings and then finally a rendition of “Amazing Grace.” Meanwhile, people held up candles along with phone flashlights as they remembered Ha.

“When we look at Aiden, we not only see a beautiful boy full of life and whimsy, but one who was taken from us far too soon,” Travelpiece told the crowd.

Drew Mumich covers Danville, Riverside and Montour County. He can be reached at 570-387-1234, ext. 1343, or at drew.mumich@pressenterprise.net.