A dead child found dumped in a rural area near Lavon Lake on Thursday had suffered severe medical problems while he was alive, police said.
According to investigators, the child, approximately 6 years old, is very small for his age. In fact, his tiny frame led investigators to initially believe he was about 3 years old.
The child is 39 inches tall and weighs about 28 pounds, they said.
It was not clear exactly what medical issues the child had, but there is evidence that the he used a feeding tube to survive, according to investigators.
Police also issued a composite of the child, which they created by taking a photo of the deceased and digitally enhancing it to demonstrate how the boy would have looked while living.
This is the first time authorities in North Texas have publicly utilized such technology, they said.
Officials hope the unusual image will help them identify the child.
The boy’s body was first discovered by groundskeepers at bout 9 a.m. Thursday.
It is not clear if child was clothed but it’s possible that he was at least barefooted.
Autopsy results will reveal exactly how the child died and also shed light on the extent of his medical condition.
See Also: Child’s Body Found near Lavon Lake