In Chester, Pennsylvania, the search for Li’najah Brooker, a 6-year-old girl who tragically fell into the swollen waters of Chester Creek on Saturday, has entered its fourth day. Early Tuesday morning, search teams reconvened at the creek, determined to continue their efforts to locate her. Despite the grim outlook, with Brooker presumed deceased, fire officials are committed to utilizing every available resource to return her to her family.
The search operation saw a significant boost on Monday when Chester fire officials introduced a new boat equipped with advanced sonar technology, courtesy of the Pennsylvania State Police. This new equipment addresses previous challenges faced by the search teams, whose larger boats struggled to access certain parts of the creek. The sonar-equipped boat now allows for greater flexibility and the ability to conduct a more thorough search, even in the creek’s deepest sections, which can reach depths of up to 30 feet.
Li’najah Brooker went missing on Saturday night after she slipped into Chester Creek while playing with her cousin at a local park. The community and search teams have been tirelessly looking for her since the incident.
Fire Commissioner John-Paul Shirley, who is actively involved in the search efforts, expressed his determination to explore every possible avenue to find Brooker. “I’m going to exhaust every option that I have in order to find her and bring her back to her family,” Shirley stated on Monday. The introduction of the sonar technology significantly enhances the search team’s capabilities, allowing them to “almost see underwater” in ways previously not possible.
In addition to the technological advancements, officials plan to bring in scent canines to aid in the search, hoping their acute senses will help locate Brooker.
The community holds onto hope as the search for Li’najah Brooker continues, with officials and volunteers alike determined to do everything in their power to find her and bring closure to her family.
For more updates on this ongoing search, stay tuned to CBS News.
Written by Howard Monroe, a native of Westfield, N.J., and a proud resident of Philadelphia, where he continues to contribute impactful stories to the community.