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Police say 9-year-old found in Ohio River appears to have drowned

Terry DeMio
Cincinnati Enquirer
The Villa Hills Police Department is investigating the death of 9-year-old Ian Sousis. Covington Police detectives are investigating what happened to Ian as he ran from the Chlldren's Home of Northern Kentucky in Devou Park on Saturday morning and along the way until he was in the river. His body was found roughly four hours later in the Ohio River near the Villa Hills Marina.

The investigation into the drowning of a  9-year-old boy who ran from Children's Home of Northern Kentucky continued Tuesday, and the home's executive director expressed condolences to his family.

"Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky/CHNK Behavioral Health expresses its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Ian Sousis, ... who died tragically on Saturday," CEO Rick Wurth said in a statement on the boy's disappearance Saturday.

Ian was in the home's residential treatment program in Covington, Wurth said. He added that the children's home is cooperating with the Covington and Villa Hills police departments and "any other appropriate agency."

"Due to privacy laws, we cannot provide any further details at this time regarding this tragic loss," Wurth said in the statement. He was not available for additional comment by phone or message.

Covington police are leading the investigation into how Ian ran from the children's home on Saturday morning and ended up roughly four hours later in the Ohio River.

Villa Hills police, who are investigating Ian's death, posted on their Facebook page Monday that a preliminary investigation and a preliminary forensic report show there were no signs of lethal trauma to the boy. The death appears to be an accidental drowning.

In Covington, Lt. Col. Brian Valenti said that two Covington detectives have been assigned to the case to check for any crime involved. So far, they haven't found anything to suggest foul play in his disappearance from the Children's home.

Meanwhile, two Kentucky state divisions said Monday they were reviewing the death "for possible further action."

Police have a video from the children's home that shows the boy running into the woods and "a staff member running off after him within about 13 seconds," Valenti said in a Monday morning interview.

Police say it's believed that Ian left the grounds, entered the woods and traveled north toward the river.

Officials from the children's home told police that Ian had run off before and had followed a particular path through Devou Park to eventually reach a cluster of fast-food restaurants around West Fourth and Philadelphia streets.

This time, Ian took a different path – and the staff lost him, Valenti said.

Covington investigators also have additional video, recorded by a doorbell camera from a residence close to the Ohio River, that shows "Ian running toward the river," according to a department news release. "At that time, he was by himself with no one else in the range of the camera or anyone following him for some time afterwards."

Police asked anyone with information to call Detective Gregg Andrews at 859-292-2271.

The nonprofit organization provides residential and outpatient mental and behavioral health services for children and families. It operates campuses in Covington and Burlington.

The Children's Home of Northern Kentucky in Devou Park pictured on Monday, June 6, 2022.

The Enquirer also contacted the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Police reports and 911 calls have also been requested.

State officials said Ian was placed at the Children's Home of Northern Kentucky by Kentucky's Department for Community Based Services, which administers foster care and adoption systems in the commonwealth. The department also provides family support; child care; child and adult protection; eligibility determinations for Medicaid and food benefits; and administration of an energy cost-assistance program.

"The tragic news of Ian’s passing was received by the Cabinet for Health and Family Service," said Susan Dunlap, a spokeswoman for the cabinet, in an email. She added that while local law enforcement is leading the investigation, "the cabinet’s Office of the Inspector General and the Department for Community Based Services are reviewing the matter for possible further action."

Covington police said units were dispatched at 9:30 a.m. Saturday after they were notified that a child walked away from the children's home in Devou Park. 

At around 1:45 p.m., boaters located a body floating in the Ohio River. The body was later confirmed to be Ian, police said. 

According to officials, Ian's body was recovered in the area of the Villa Hills Marina.

Villa Hills Police Chief Bryan Allen said Monday morning that his department was handling the death investigation because of where Ian's body was found. The investigators are awaiting final reports and continue to assist Covington police.

Staff writer Brook Endale contributed.

Cincinnati.com will update this story.