NORTON, Mass. (WJAR) – The life of a 6-year-old girl with autism was cut tragically short when she slipped out the back door of her home and died after being pulled from an icy pond.
Police received a desperate call around 2:30 p.m. last Friday from a set of parents reporting their 6-year-old daughter, who had autism and was nonverbal, was missing from her home in Norton, Massachusetts. The family’s home backs up to the water, so authorities immediately began searching Barrowsville Pond and Wading River.
Officials say the girl, later identified as Josephine “Josie” Pinto, was found in the partially frozen pond less than an hour later. Onsite medical staff performed CPR on her before she was rushed to Sturdy Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Community members gathered Monday at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church to honor Josie’s life. Her father, John Pinot, expressed gratitude for the efforts of first responders.
“The firemen that helped so diligently to try to find my baby. We want to say thank you,” he said.
Josie and her twin sister, Rose Marie “Rosie” Pinto, were both diagnosed with autism in 2021. Despite careful precautions, the family said the girls were known to wander. Before her death, Josie is said to have “bolted out the back door” of the family’s home.
Josie is described in her obituary as a loving and affectionate girl who was full of life and wonder. She loved puzzles, school and the Disney movie “Frozen.” Her funeral will be held Friday.
A GoFundMe set up for the family had raised more than $83,000, as of Wednesday night. The money will go toward easing their financial strain and caring for Josie’s twin sister.
Josie’s parents also intend to donate part of the donations in their daughter’s name “to bring safety and awareness to autism and prevent other families from experiencing a similar loss,” according to the fundraising page.
Copyright 2025 WJAR via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. Gray News contributed to this report.