The body of Molu Zarpeleh, 10, who was reported missing last Thursday night, was recovered from a privately-owned retention pond along 12th Street South around 8:40 a.m. Friday after authorities searched the pond, according to a new release from the City of Brookings.
A tip that Zarpeleh had been pushed into the pond that circulated on social media has been redacted by the tipster, said Chelsea Bakken, public information officer for the City of Brookings.
Investigators also reported that tips they received Friday related to circumstances surrounding the incident were not true but won’t state why. Police are ignoring it and ruling it an “accidental drowning but his mother says differently.
“A 10-year-old boy would not just take his sandals off and walk into the water,” she said. “He didn’t know how to swim.”
Brookings police and the Brookings Fire Department searched for Zarpeleh until about 2:30 a.m. Friday before the search was stopped due to safety concerns, poor lighting and murky water, the release states. Searchers used pumps from Brookings Municipal Utilities and Brookings County to remove about 300,000 gallons of water from the pond during the resumed search Friday morning
“Molu died, but I can’t say ‘was’ yet,” Mole said. “He’s my first child. He’s my only son. I don’t want to use the word ‘was.’ I can’t imagine him not living.”
This is my town. There are a group of white supremists who reside here. They were at out black lives matter rally a few weeks ago carrying guns and trying to get a rise out of us. This is supposed to be a good town and on the surface it is but once you look closer it is corrupt and crumbling and poisoned with these shitty people who want to bring back segregation. They are murderers and need to be punished. Justice for Molu!
