Body found in Delaware River likely that of 2-year-old girl

A body recovered from the Delaware River near Philadelphia is likely that of 2-year-old Matilda Sheils, who vanished last week alongside her brother after they were swept away by a wave of water triggered by intense flooding in the area, police said.

The remains were found Friday evening more than 30 miles from where Matilda vanished during flash flooding in Bucks County. Based on “the physical description of the child, and clothing found on the child,” authorities believe it is very likely they have found the missing girl, Upper Makefield Fire Company Chief Tim Brewer said during a news conference Friday.

An autopsy will be conducted by the local coroner’s officer on Saturday and the remains will then officially be identified.

The search continued on Saturday for Matilda’s 9-month-old brother, Conrad Sheils. The efforts include a series of Marine units deployed along the Delaware River in addition to a K9 units.

The Sheils family was visiting the Bucks County area from Charleston, S.C., when the children disappeared, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. They were on their way to a barbecue on July 15 when a wall of water from intense flooding overwhelmed their vehicle.

The children’s father, Jim Sheils, grabbed the couple’s 4-year-old son and managed to make it to safety. Their mother, 32-year-old Katheryn Seley, and grandmother grabbed the other children, but all were swept away by the flood. The grandmother survived while Seley was killed.

At least four others were confirmed to ha e died in the flood, including Enzo De Piero, 78, and Linda De Piero, 74, of Newtown; Yuko Love, 64, of Newtown; and Susan Barnhart, 53, of Titusville, New Jersey.

With News Wire Services