PLEEBO, Maryland County – May 9, 2025 – Grief has enveloped the Zone 4 community of Pleebo City following the tragic death of 2-year-old Theo Elliott, who was discovered in an open pit behind AICA Elementary School on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.
Young Theo was under the care of his relative, Esther Doe, a routine arrangement while his parents were working. Disturbingly, the events leading to his death began with a false claim. A 7-year-old boy, Daniel Freeman, reportedly informed Esther Doe that Theo’s grandmother, Mamie Doe, had requested the toddler’s presence.
However, this assertion was untrue. Mamie Doe was miles away on her farm at the time, completely unaware of the unfolding events at home. The discrepancy came to light later that evening upon Mamie’s return, when the child’s absence sparked immediate alarm and confusion.
A frantic search was launched by family members and concerned community residents, continuing throughout the night and into the early hours of Wednesday morning. Their worst fears were realized when Theo’s lifeless body was tragically found in an open pit situated just behind AICA Elementary School – a location in close proximity to both the Elliott and Doe residences.
The Liberia National Police’s Crime Services Division (CSD) promptly responded to the heart-wrenching discovery. A team led by Deputy CSD/CID Inspector Jimmy Kaydor, accompanied by nurse assistant Barney Neufville from the Pleebo Health Center, visited the scene to conduct a preliminary investigation. A 15-member coroner’s jury was subsequently empaneled. Following their assessment, the jury concluded that Theo’s death was accidental, finding no evidence to suggest foul play.
Theo’s remains have since been released to his grieving family to begin funeral arrangements.
The open pit, the site of this tragic accident, was revealed to be part of a stalled septic tank project initiated in August 2024. According to Rev. Sylvester Chea, the principal of AICA Elementary School, the project was suspended due to a lack of necessary funding. While Rev. Chea stated that the school administration had cautioned students to stay away from the dangerous area, he conceded that no formal communication or warnings were issued to the wider surrounding community, leaving residents unaware of the potential hazard lurking nearby.
In the wake of this devastating loss, the school administration has offered a verbal apology to the bereaved Elliott family. However, this gesture has not quelled the growing concerns within the community. Residents are now urgently demanding the implementation of enhanced safety measures around the school premises and are calling for greater transparency from both the school and any involved contractors regarding stalled projects that pose risks to public safety.
Authorities have confirmed that the Liberia National Police are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding Theo Elliott’s death, seeking to understand how this tragic accident occurred and to prevent similar incidents in the future. The community now mourns the loss of a young life and seeks assurances that such preventable tragedies will not be repeated.
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