A search has turned into a recovery operation for a little Pennsylvania girl who was swept away in a creek over the weekend.
6-year-old Lin'ajah Brooker was carried away in the rain-swollen Chester Creek after several inches of rain fell in a matter of hours.
Authorities in Delaware County officials said little Lin'ajah was reported missing at about 7 p.m. Saturday after she slipped and fell into the water.
She had been playing with three girls when two of them fell in. One made it out. Lin'ajah did not.
Crews searched for hours in an unsuccessful effort to locate her.
A search on Sunday was also unsuccessful.
"This is an extremely sad day for the City of Chester," said Chester Mayor Stefan Roots told WACU-TV. "This is a community that will wrap its arms around those are hurting or who are in need."
Chester @ChesterCityFire and Pennsylvania State Police crews search Chester creek with electronic equipment Monday morning. pic.twitter.com/MftgwupDrH
— Pete Bannan (@PeteBannan) March 25, 2024
Crews returned on Monday to try to locate her body, with the Pennsylvania State Police was using sonar technology.
Brooker's grandmother, Kimberly Richardson, says the family held out hope for as long as they could.
"My emotions are all off hinge. I haven't had sleep. I can't eat," Richardson told WPVI-TV.
The family told the news outlet that Brooker's sister passed away on the day five years ago at the age of three.
