HIGHLAND PARK, NJ—Authorities were seen removing the bodies of two young children from the banks of the Raritan River earlier today.  The children were reported missing by their mothers, who lived in New Brunswick.

Francisco Pereira of 274 Somerset Street, and Devine Nicholas, of Mine Street, went missing yesterday at about 6pm, as we reported following an alert issued by the NJ State Police.  That alert was issued at 1:09pm today.

Steph Solis of the Home News Tribune says on her Twitter page that she spoke with Carol Leonard, the mother of Devine Nicholas.

Solis reported that Leonard said police told her they had found the body of Francisco Pereira, age 10, as well as shoes belonging to Nicholas.  The two friends had been missing for about 24 hours.

She also reported that Leonard said her son could not swim.  By 7pm, authorities had found another body, later confirmed to belong to Nicholas.

New Brunswick’s police boat, Marine One, as well as a NJ State Police helictopter and two additional boats were observed searching the water after the first body was discovered.

Meanwhile, a vehicle from the Middlesex County Medical Examiner’s office and numerous marked and unmarked New Brunswick police and fire vehicles staged just across the river from New Brunswick, in the vicinity of the Albany Street (Route 27) bridge.

Traffic over the northbound side of the bridge was limited to only one lane, leading to major congestion during rush hour.

Editor at New Brunswick Today | 732-993-9697 | editor@newbrunswicktoday.com | Website

Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.

Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.