Missing 3-year-old girl found dead after apparent drowning in South Carolina lake, deputies say

A 3-year-old girl who disappeared Saturday afternoon has been found dead after an apparent drowning in South Carolina.

A 3-year-old girl who disappeared Saturday afternoon has been found dead after an apparent drowning in South Carolina.

A 3-year-old girl who disappeared Saturday afternoon has been found dead after an apparent drowning in South Carolina.

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Deputies said the girl was visiting residents in the area when she was reported missing near Lake Wylie Road in the Clover area of York County.

Officials said they got the call around 12:30 p.m., and her body was found around 2 p.m.

"Just before 12:30 we were dispatched for a missing 3-year-old child," deputies said. "At the time, parents believed that she wandered off. We brought [the] K-9 [and] dive [team] and sadly, about 2 p.m., it became a recovery effort. The child was found. We're doing an investigation, but it just seems like right now it's turning out to be a tragic accident."

Neighbors told WSOC-TV's Tina Terry they were notified about the missing girl by phone and online.

Residents said the tragedy is impacting everyone in the tight-knit community.

"Thoughts and prayers go out to the family on this tragic afternoon," a resident told WSOC. "I just hope they find some kind of peace, especially for the one that was responsible for her."

No other details have been released.

– Please visit WSOCTV.com for the latest on this developing story.

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