Autistic boy found dead in S.C. to be buried in N.Y.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — The body of 4-year-old Jayden Morrison, the autistic boy from Greenburgh who drowned after wandering from his second home in South Carolina last week, is to be returned to New York where he will be laid to rest, family members said.

A funeral is expected to be held at Calvary Baptist Church in White Plains for Jayden, whose body could be flown back to New York as early as Monday while his family expects to return by car, his grandmother, Carolyn Sumpter, told The Journal News on Saturday.

Jayden walked out of his house unnoticed Christmas Eve and was found dead two days later in a pond about 100 yards away, police said. There were no signs of foul play.

He leaves behind a twin brother, Jordan, who is also autistic and a 3-year-old sister, Kelsey. Neither know what has happened, although they can sense something is wrong, Sumpter said, adding that Jordan is spending most of his time lying in bed. For her part, she is trying to stay strong.

"We have two more kids who need us," Sumpter said.

Jayden, who was the more active of the twins, had been watching television with his siblings shortly before he disappeared, said Sumpter, who was watching the children while their mother had gone out shopping.

Blaming herself for the tragedy, Sumpter said Jayden walked out of an unlocked front screen door that the family typically doesn't use, although on the day he disappeared, the family had ordered pizza which, unbeknownst to Sumpter, was delivered through that door.

"I didn't see the door open," she said.

She had been watching the children from an adjoining room and only a few minutes had passed when she noticed Jayden was missing. Initially she thought the boy had hidden under a bed but when she couldn't find him, she noticed the opened front door and unlocked screen door.

"I discovered the door was open and I lost my baby," she said.

Sumpter said McMahon, Lyon & Hartnett Funeral Home in White Plains is handling arrangements.

Authorities launched a massive search for the boy before his body was recovered Friday. Sumpter said she wanted to thank authorities for the care and attention they gave the family.