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The Montreal police are convinced that Ariel Jeffrey Kouakou, the 10-year-old boy who has been missing since March 12, died in a tragic accident on the day he disappeared by falling into the Rivière des Prairies in the park where he was last seen alive.

Since the search began last week, Montreal police spokespeople have delicately chosen their words in terms of what they think happened to Ariel. They have maintained they have followed both the possibility that he somehow fell into the river or that he was abducted. In an interview with the Montreal Gazette on Wednesday, Inspector Ian Lafrenière, stated clearly that investigators “are convinced” the boy fell into the river and drowned.

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“We have a very credible witness who saw him in (Bateliers Park), near the river, at 11:25 (a.m. on March 12) near the waterfront (of Rivière des Prairies). She is extremely credible. We have camera footage that places him in the park. We don’t see him (on any security cameras) getting out of the park,” Lafrèniere said while adding that the woman who saw and spoke to Ariel before he went missing asked him several questions about why he was alone in a park on what she assumed was a school day. It turns out the boy’s school was closed that day for administrative reasons. Lafrenière said investigators were impressed that the woman went out of her way to ask Ariel a series of questions before continuing on her way.