Police find 5-year-old boy dead in backyard pool in Bethalto

A 5-year-old boy died after drowning in a pool in his Bethalto backyard Saturday, according to a news release.

Chance M. Shewmake, of Bethalto, was pronounced dead at 8:31 p.m. Saturday at Alton Memorial Hospital. His autopsy showed that he appeared to have drowned, according to a release from the Madison County coroner.

The Bethalto Police Department responded to a 911 call just before 8 p.m. from Chance’s mother after she was unable to find her son. Officers searched the property and found the boy submerged in a pool in his backyard.

Attempts to resuscitate the boy were unsuccessful. The Southern Illinois Child Death Task Force was activated, and their investigation is ongoing.

Funeral services will be with the Pitchford Funeral Home in Wood River.

This story was originally published October 9, 2017 at 6:16 PM with the headline "Police find 5-year-old boy dead in backyard pool in Bethalto."