Toddler Pulled from Lake Is Missing Boy

Dontrell Johnson was taken by his father Monday

A young boy pulled from Lake Michigan has been identified as a toddler who was taken from his South Side home by his father earlier this week.

Doctors at Comer Children's Hospital said they tried until about 3:45 p.m. to revive 14-month-old Dontrell Johnson.  He'd been brought to them in "extremely critical condition," said Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford.

Johnson's body was discovered at about 2 p.m. Thursday, floating about 3/4 of a mile out from shore.

At Jackson Park Yacht Club, at 6400 South Promontory Drive, witness Johann Hudson said a recreational boater fished the body out of the water, called police and brought it into harbor.

Dontrell Johnson was picked up by his father Monday from the 9400 block of South Harvard Avenue in the Roseland area, but refused to return the him to his mother. He also threatened to do bodily harm to the child.

"We never though he'd do something like this," said neighbor Vanessa Ray, adding that the entire complex is in shock over what happened.

The father is in police custody and refused to tell anyone the location of his son.  Other members of the boy's family were headed to Area 2 police headquarters.
 

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