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10-year-old girl found dead in western Ohio canal

MONTEZUMA, Ohio (WANE) – A ten-year-old girl was found dead in a canal near Grand Lake Saint Mary’s in Ohio Saturday afternoon.

According to the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department, Montezuma firefighters were called to a home in the 6300 block of State Road 703 for a reported missing child.

Around 7:30 a.m., Montezuma firefighters and more than 90 first responders were called in to assist in locating 10-year-old Jade Riggs.

After searching for more than six hours, Riggs was found deceased in a canal near Montezuma Bay – an extension of Grand Lake Saint Mary’s.

Investigators said Riggs was last seen around 5:30 a.m. when her grandfather left for work. It’s believed Riggs went outside when she woke up. Officials said Riggs loved the water and loved to throw stones into the water. Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey said it’s believed Riggs was throwing stones in the water and fell in.

Montezuma firefighters were assisted by fire departments from Chickasaw, Coldwater, Celina, Saint Mary’s Township, Henry, Osgood, Burkettsville, South West Mercer, Mendon and Rockford. The Mercer County Sheriff’s Department, Auglaize County Sheriff’s Department, ODNR-Division of Watercraft, MCERV, Coldwater EMS, and Lutheran Air assisted with the search efforts.