By james art 
Juan Sebastian Mejja AcevedoPhoto ofVirginia Beach Police Department
Virginia Beach, Virginia. -Despite the hopes of his safe return, the body of a missing 12-year-old boy was found on Monday.
According to Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) Media statementThe body of Juan Sebastian Mejja Asevedo was restored from a water body near the 200 block of Mika Avenue on January 27, 2025.
Asevedo was last seen in the morning of January 24 and was thought to be a victim of abduction, which happened around 9am the same day.
Amber signal was issued with the additional warning that Asevedo is thought to be in extreme danger.
Following the recovery of the victim’s body and the family’s news, VBCD police chief Paul Nadgiga conducted a television press conference during which he provided additional information and answers questions from reporters.
Video below, kindness of NBC branch Wavy 10S
Apparently upset by the tragic discovery, Neudigate’s voice was shaking at times during appearance.
This is followed by an edited, paraphrased summary at the press conference. For an accurate word for word for word, please browse the original video (above).
[NEUDIGATE] “As you know, we have been looking for a 12-year-old nonstop in the last three days.
“Our sea patrol returned here early this morning, checking the ponds and a little earlier today, using some new technology we received for sonar, we covered a body that was approximately eight feet under water.
“This body corresponds to the physical description and description of the clothing we have about Juan Asevedo.
“The body has been restored and the family has just been informed of this tragic situation.
“I don’t know if there are words to figure out what happened today. We thank the media, we thank the community, because it was a complete effort to try to find this young man for almost the last 72 hours. And it is a pity that this is the result. “
[MEDIA QUESTION] What role does ICE play in this?
[NEUDIGATE] “I think this played a big role. I was there for a while and watched the recovery operations and talked to the sea patrol and we were here yesterday.
“We have exhausted every possible resource we have, from the blood hips from other places, from Hampton roads and VSP (Virginia State Police), our installed patrols – everything we have, we put in a game to try to find Juan.
“We were here yesterday and had drones over our heads, but when the ice is three inches thick, it makes us incredibly difficult to see everything that is down there.
“We had no specific indications that these reservoirs were an area of interest, but we did not want to leave any stone overturned and as you know, we investigated this as a possible abduction. It was a very complicated investigation with thousands of employees, dedicated. “
[MEDIA QUESTION] Is it the demand for this particular water body to the top or just make sure that every water body is covered?
[NEUDIGATE] “It was just proactive … We just checked every possible area … We had no specific information about intelligence that it could be an area of interest we needed to check, but on the basis of circumstances we had to find this young man and we went not to leave an option Outside the table. “
[MEDIA QUESTION] “What is next?”
[NEUDIGATE] “I think this is a period of grief for the family. We will be there to support them. It will be a period of grief for the community – because I think they have lived shared experiences with all of us in the last three days and I think we should also look at what the officers who have just pulled him a young man from the lake and how that affects them. The executive team and the community have a lot of support to provide a number of people. “
[MEDIA QUESTION] “Since this stems from abduction, do we now move on to this in investigation into murder?
[NEUDIGATE] “Everything I would say will just be my assumption about the gut and we must continue with facts.
“We will bring the young man into the office of the medical examination. They will actually tell us what they consider to be the cause of death, and then we will reassess what we initially believed and understand this information.
“We treated him as a kidnapping based on the information we saw just to make sure we give it, it’s a duly diligence.”
[MEDIA QUESTION] Result or fraud study by police?
[NEUDIGATE] “It is still part of the investigation. Either we will refute it, or we will continue to investigate it.
“We know that this will not be the first time this type of fraud has been immortalized in a family that goes through difficult circumstances. Is this the opportunity? Is it absolutely one of our theories that it was a fraud immortalized in the family? Of course. But we would be negligent if we did not treat him as a real threat or actual abduction – until we understand otherwise. “
[MEDIA QUESTION] – do [Acevedo’s family] Actually give $ 500 to someone?
[NEUDIGATE] “My understanding, during the original request for Live on Facebook for people who may have seen Juan go out paid without additional communication. We would be left not to explore this until we understand otherwise. “
[MEDIA QUESTION] Because someone received $ 500. Do we know who this person can be?
[NEUDIGATE] “We are still trying to follow this. Unfortunately, since this includes outside state transactions, we need search orders, summonses to try to identify who is that person who has received this money and then working with these local authorities.
“At that moment I don’t think there is a threat. But what I can talk to is the facts and with what happened here today, we still have many investigations. I could tell you what my gut tells me, but let’s stick to the facts. “
[MEDIA QUESTION] Do you want to share with us what your gut tells you?
[NEUDIGATE] – Not at this time.
“I think we all have a certain sense of what may have happened … But as the police we are dealing with facts, not what we think may have happened.
“So let me receive a few more facts and then I will tell it all of you so that we can get … I don’t want to say” closing “… Because how can you ever close something tragic. But … some understanding. “
This incident remains a continuing investigation.