Missing 7-year-old Lowell girl found deceased by authorities

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Lowell Chief of Police Greg Hudon today confirmed that at approximately 11:55 a.m. today members of the Massachusetts State Police Underwater Recovery Unit recovered the body of a young black female, believed to be 7-year-old Anna Mburu, who was reported missing by her family yesterday.

According to Massachusetts State Police, the girl, believed to be Anna, was located in the Merrimack River in the area of the Trull Brook Golf Course in Tewksbury. She was found about 15 to 20 yards from shore in 8 to 9 feet of water. While Anna’s body did not have any obvious signs of trauma, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will ultimately make a positive identification and determine the cause and manner of death.

At approximately 3:00 p.m. Sunday, Anna’s family called Lowell Police to report that she had gone missing from her Geana Lane home. Anna’s family and Lowell Police immediately began searching the surrounding neighborhood utilizing multiple assets including, K-9 teams, drones, the Massachusetts State Police Air Wing, ground search teams on foot, bicycles and ATVs. A search of the river was also conducted by the Lowell Fire Department and the Lowell Police Dive Team.

Late Monday morning, Environmental Police, using side-scan sonar were able to locate an image believed to be Anna that appeared to be moving with the current of river.

Massachusetts State Police divers entered the water, which due to the recent heavy rain was deeper than usual and moving faster than average, and were able to retrieve the body.

While the family grieves this unimaginable loss, they have asked for privacy.

If you or a family member are concerned about a high-risk loved one who may wander from safe environments, you may contact Project Lifesaver at https://projectlifesaver.org/about-us/ or at 877-580-LIFE (5433). This program helps law enforcement and public safety agencies to implement locative technologies to track missing individuals and aids in partnerships with nonprofit organizations to develop or operate programs to prevent wandering, increase individuals’ safety, and facilitate rescues.

This investigation was conducted by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Lowell Police, Lowell Police K-9 Unit and Drone Unit, Massachusetts Environmental Police, Massachusetts State Police Troop A personnel, MSP Underwater Recovery Team, MSP Marine Unit MSP Air Wing, the MSP K-9 Unit, MSP Special Emergency Response Team, the State Police Detective Unit for Middlesex County, Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council K-9 Unit and Regional Response Teams, the Lowell Fire Department and the Lowell Police Dive Team, Lowell Emergency Management, Central Massachusetts Search and Rescue, Drones from Burlington, Woburn and Tewksbury Police Departments, Massachusetts Fire Marshal’s Office, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, and Ipswich Police.

The investigators offer their gratitude to the members of the public, partner law enforcement agencies, members of the media and everyone who assisted in the extensive search for Anna.