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Autism Vox

In Memoriam Benjy Heil

by Kristina Chew, PhD on June 19th, 2007

Around 11am this morning 7-year-old Benjamin “Benjy” Heil was found in Ten Mile Creek, less than a mile from his house in Saratoga, Wisconsin. The sheriff’s department will conduct an investigation about Benjy’s death.

I’m going to quote Suzanne, who sent me the story: “so sad. I so hoped he would turn up tired and dehydrated, but alive.”

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POSTED IN: Safety

12 opinions for In Memoriam Benjy Heil

  • Club 166
    Jun 19, 2007 at 4:32 pm

    For some reason I expected this one to come out OK. I guess I was encouraged by the authorities saying they had ruled out him going into the river, and the fact that it was warm out.

    This is extremely sad. What a loss.

  • Daisy
    Jun 19, 2007 at 8:30 pm

    I kept hoping he’d turn up, huddled in a tree stand or a closed-up fishing shanty or some other hunting shelter. What a difficult loss for his family.

  • Ms. Clark
    Jun 19, 2007 at 8:49 pm

    I’m so sorry. I thought maybe he’d been kidnapped, which would be horrible, but I thought maybe they’d find him alive.

    Poor little boy. His parents must be devastated.

  • mystyeyed
    Jun 20, 2007 at 12:08 am

    This is a terrible loss for the whole community. Pray for the family. They have a lot of faith, but right now they just need love and support.

  • Tammy
    Jun 21, 2007 at 5:32 pm

    Our prayers are with the family and all of the families who are scared that this could happen to their child with Autism. Me included.

  • Rochelle
    Jun 21, 2007 at 11:37 pm

    My thoughts and prayers go out to the family. A horrible tragedy and profound loss for the family.

    One of my most terrifying nightmares…

  • Dianne
    Jun 22, 2007 at 10:51 am

    I am so sorry.. i had gotten a notice from my niec on myspace to pray for him.. so sad

  • Hope
    Jun 22, 2007 at 6:23 pm

    I feel for the family and friends of the Heil family and all of those myself included that searched so optimistically for him. I know how hard it is when someone says he is in a better place or that he is with the Lord, it is hard to understand in the grieving process. One thing that I really wanted to express to everyone in the community is that Benjy did what millions of dollars and no other single person has done in a long time and that is that he brought our whole community together. People closed their businesses and called into work to search and be there for one another. So I would like to say to Benjy’s parents is.. GOOD JOB and THANK YOU , what a wonderful job you did with Benjy and continue to do with your other children.

  • Estelle Perry
    Jun 22, 2007 at 7:28 pm

    The loss of a child is the worst pain anyone can endure….my deepest sympathies are with this family

  • Cords Mom
    Jun 22, 2007 at 11:19 pm

    My deepest sympathies go out to the Heil family. I have a son with autism, he has tought me so much about life and to lose him I can not even imagine what this family is going through.
    I think that this is one of every parent with an autistic childs fears.

  • Mary Cummings
    Jun 27, 2007 at 3:21 am

    Benji father, Rick Heil, is my first cousin. This is a deeply religious family, and their faith will get them through this. I’m sure his grandmother, Florence, was there to meet him and be with him, and the family should take comfort in that.

  • Should there be a Justin Alert?
    Aug 26, 2007 at 8:02 pm

    […] in June, 7-year-old Benjy Heil was found in Ten Mile Creek, less than a mile from his house in Saratoga, […]

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