Body found in search for missing 4-year-old girl in Indiana believed to be in 'extreme danger'

The search for a missing 4-year-old girl in Indiana has ended, after a body matching her description was found in a body of water in her neighborhood, police said.

Fiedwenya Fiefe, called Neegee by her family, was last seen around 1 p.m. after she wandered from her home in the Legacy Farms subdivision in Plainfield, 17 miles southwest of Indianapolis, authorities said -- sparking a search that drew hundreds of volunteers.

"Despite the valiant efforts of our citizens, volunteers, police, fire, along with local and state agencies, the search for missing NeeGee has come to a devastating and heartbreaking end," the Plainfield Police Department updated Friday evening.

The body of a child was found Friday evening in a body of water in the Legacy Farms neighborhood, police said. Exact confirmation of the child's identity will be determined by the Hendricks County Coroner's Office.

Police described Fiedwenya as having autism and being nonverbal, which would have made it difficult for her to ask for help.

"She has a history of leaving the residence unattended but they generally find her quickly and get her back," Plainfield Deputy Chief Joe Aldridge told reporters Friday morning, as the search entered its second day.

The state had issued a Silver Alert, alerting the public to missing and endangered adults or children, for Fiedwenya, which noted that she "is believed to be in extreme danger and may require medical assistance."

Some 500 first responders and volunteers were involved in the search for Fiedwenya. Police were primarily concentrating on her neighborhood as well as two nearby, Aldridge said.

Fiedwenya was drawn to water, and there were approximately 14 ponds in Legacy Farms and a nearby neighborhood that police were searching, Aldridge said. Drones, rescue canines, off-road vehicles, watercraft and sonar equipment were used in the search, police said.

No foul play was suspected, Aldridge said.

"The family, as you would imagine, is very devastated," he said Friday morning. "They are cooperating with our agency."

Police had asked residents in the area to check their property for the missing child as well as any exterior home video. Fiedwenya was captured on a resident's footage walking down her street Thursday shortly after the family reported her missing to police, Aldridge said.