National Basketball Association

Police say Marcus Camby's 9-year-old nephew found dead in lake

Published Dec. 9, 2016 12:33 p.m. ET

Barry Werner

The 9-year-old nephew of Marcus Camby was found dead in a lake on the former NBA star's property in a suburb of Houston.

Marcus McGhee, who had autism, was discovered in the water of a lake behind the property Saturday morning, said Lt. Onesimo Lopez, spokesman for the Pearland Police Department.

Marcus McGhee had been at Camby's house for a family dinner on Thanksgiving. In the afternoon, the family realized he was missing and called authorities. The search began on Thursday, carried through Friday until a Pearland, Texas, investigator found it as he walked along the lake.

Lopez said there appeared to be no indications of foul play.

Police announced the discovery in a Facebook post:

"Pearland Police Department regrets to inform the community that Marcus McGhee has been found. Today's search will be called off. We thank all of you for your efforts" the department posted on its Facebook page Saturday morning. "The family is now in need of our prayers. Additional details will be released later."

On Friday, police originally announced details of the initial disappearance and search (via the Houston Chronicle):

The child had been playing with other kids, but the adults noticed he was missing at about 4:15 p.m. They began searching the house, which has "lots of rooms, lots of places where people can hide," a police spokesman said. "Each room opens to a different room. It's almost like a labyrinth."

Police arrived at about 4:45 p.m. and began combing the house and the dense property, which includes a small lake in its center. A security camera picked up Marcus for a few seconds as he slipped out of a side door, Lopez said.