On June 20 at 9:27 p.m. law enforcement officers responded to the call of a missing 10-year-old
boy at Great Life Golf & Fitness. After a search of the premises, the boy was located submerged
in about 5.5 feet of water at the facility swimming pool. A Franklin County Sheriff’s deputy
pulled him from the water and found him to be unresponsive. First aid was started using CPR
and as life-saving efforts continued he was transported by Franklin County EMS to Ransom
Memorial Hospital where efforts stopped at 11:25 p.m. when he was pronounced deceased.
The victim was identified as Devon Lee Rice of Ottawa. His mother and next of kin were
notified of his death and the events are under investigation by the Ottawa Police Department to
determine the cause of death. As part of the investigation, an autopsy will be completed.
Witnesses reported that Devon arrived at the facility with a family member and he went
swimming with other children in the pool without the family member present. When Devon
could not be located, a witness(s) reported that he was last seen walking away from the facility
so search efforts were initially focused in that area. When these efforts did not locate Devon,
first responders began searching other areas of the facility where Devon could be or had been
seen earlier and this was when he was located in the pool.
Anyone who may have been present at the facility during this event, but did not speak with
police officers is asked to contact Detective Steven Burkhart at 785-242-2561 x 430.
1001 E. Logan Street, Ottawa, Kansas
