Grief has gripped residents of Pleebo City, District 2, after the lifeless body of 2-year-old Theo Elliott was found in an open pit behind the AICA Elementary School early Wednesday morning, May 7.
The tragic discovery came after a frantic overnight search, sparked by the child’s mysterious disappearance late Tuesday. According to eyewitnesses and local sources, young Theo was last seen in the care of a neighbor, Esther Doe, a regular caretaker for the toddler whenever his parents were out seeking food or work.
On the day of the incident, a 7-year-old boy identified as Daniel Freeman reportedly misled Esther by claiming that Theo’s grandmother, Mamie Doe, had requested him. Esther, trusting the boy’s word, allowed Theo to leave. But it later emerged that Mamie had been away on her farm, located several kilometers outside Pleebo, and had made no such request.
Upon Mamie’s return and denial of involvement, panic set in, and neighbors and family launched a desperate search effort that extended into the early hours of Wednesday. By morning, the search ended in tragedy: Theo was found dead in an uncovered pit located at the rear of AICA Elementary School, just behind the Elliott and Doe residences.
Authorities from the Liberia National Police’s Crime Services Department (CSD), led by Deputy Commander Inspector Jimmy Kaydor, quickly arrived at the scene along with Physician Assistant Banny Neufville from the Pleebo Health Center. A 15-member coroner’s jury was summoned, and the child was officially pronounced dead after a medical assessment.
The pit, officials say, had been dug in August 2024 as part of a planned septic tank project for the school. But according to Rev. Sylvester Chea, principal of AICA Elementary, the project stalled due to a lack of funding. He admitted that while students had been warned to stay clear of the site, no effort was made to alert residents in the surrounding community about the open hazard.
“This was a terrible oversight. We never imagined something like this could happen,” Rev. Chea told reporters, expressing regret and offering an apology to the grieving Elliott family.
While no arrests have been made, police sources say negligent homicide charges may be considered against the school’s administration pending the outcome of the investigation.
As the Elliott family mourns, residents are calling for accountability and stricter safety enforcement around construction sites, especially those near homes and schools.
Police investigations are ongoing.
— Reported by The Liberian Investigator
