Authorities Recover Body Of 8-Year-Old Gideon McKean, Robert F. Kennedy’s Great-Grandson

David McKean / Facebook

Two days after divers recovered the body of 40-year-old Maeve Kennedy McKean, authorities located the body of her missing son, eight-year-old Gideon.

The McKean family was quarantining on the Chesapeake Bay at an empty house owned by Maeve’s mother, former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend. Kathleen is the daughter of the late Senator and U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, making Maeve his granddaughter and Gideon his great-grandson.

As Maeve’s husband, David McKean, explained in a post on Facebook, Maeve and Gideon were playing kickball in the yard when one of them kicked the ball into the water. They decided to take a canoe out into the bay to retrieve it:

“They got into a canoe, intending simply to retrieve the ball, and somehow got pushed by wind or tide into the open bay,” David wrote. “About 30 minutes later they were spotted by an onlooker from land, who saw them far out from shore, and called the police. After that last sighting, they were not seen again. The Coast Guard recovered their canoe, which was capsized and miles away, at approximately 6:30 [Friday] evening.”

https://www.facebook.com/mckean.david/posts/10163553754455487

After the Coast Guard discovered Maeve and Gideon’s capsized canoe, they made the decision to call off their rescue effort. Their mission turned from rescue to recovery.

Four days after mother and son went missing, divers discovered Maeve’s body. The Maryland Natural Resources Police issued a statement about the recovery, saying Maeve was found in 25 feet of water and was 2.5 miles away from her mother’s house.

The search for Gideon’s body continued from there. Now, the Maryland Natural Resources Police has confirmed that he has been found as well.

Via a statement, the Maryland Natural Resources Police said Gideon’s body was discovered on Wednesday (April 8). He was found just 2,000 feet from the spot where divers recovered his mother’s body two days prior.

Like Maeve, Gideon was found in 25 feet of water.

When addressing his wife and son’s disappearance, David knew in his heart it was unlikely they had survived. He took the time to describe what he loved most about both of them, describing Gideon as such:

“It is impossible to sum up Gideon here. I am heartbroken to even have to try. I used to marvel at him as a toddler and worry that he was too perfect to exist in this world. It seems to me now that he was.”

Our hearts go out to David during this sad time. He and Maeve also have a seven-year-old daughter, Gabriella, and a two-year-old son, Toby. Our prayers go out to them as well, and to all who loved Maeve and Gideon.