Authorities recover body of missing 6-year-old from Clayton County pond

The body of 6-year-old Ramon "RJ" Jett, who had been missing, was discovered in a pond in Clayton County, Georgia, on the morning of June 29, 2026.RJ, who was nonverbal and autistic, disappeared around 11:00 AM on Sunday, June 28, from the Sutter Lake Apartments located on Webb Road in Riverdale. His family became aware of his absence after waking from a nap and noticing that the front door was ajar. Authorities observed that the apartment did not have the high-set door locks that the family utilized at their primary residence to ensure his safety.

After a comprehensive search that included K-9 units, drones, and dive teams, police dogs traced his scent to a pond situated approximately 125 yards from the location where he went missing. Dive teams recovered his body from the water at around 9:20 AM on Monday.

The Clayton County Police Department has confirmed that the investigation is still active and ongoing as detectives strive to ascertain the circumstances surrounding his death. However, authorities have indicated that they do not anticipate any criminal charges being filed in what seems to be a tragic drowning incident.

In the meantime, the Clayton County Police Department has expressed its heartfelt appreciation to the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Spalding County Sheriff’s Office, GBI, Georgia DNR, City of Morrow, City of Jonesboro, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Team Adam, Troup County Fire Department, volunteers, and community partners who dedicated their efforts throughout this search.
The authorities are also profoundly grateful to the members of our community who provided information, disseminated alerts, offered assistance, and kept RJ and his family in their thoughts. Furthermore, the public is urged to respect the family's privacy as they navigate their grief.