Police in New Jersey are investigating the deaths of a mother and an 11-year-old boy who were found dead in a river in Boonton.

According to CBS New York, police were called to the riverfront at about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, after witnesses reported a young child alone in a parked car, crying for its mother.

Responding officers observed footprints in the snow that led them to Rockaway River, where they found the bodies of a woman and child at the top of a waterfall.

“Canvas of the area revealed a female adult, approximately mid-30s, and a male child, approximately 11 years old, were found in the water at the top of the waterfall that the river goes into,” said Robert Caroll, acting Morris County prosecutor. “It’s obviously a very sad day when children are involved in this type of situation. It’s a horrible situation.”

According to the report, police indicated they believed bodies were carried by the current.

Authorities have not released the identities of the victims or commented on a possible cause of death. While investigators apparently believe the woman is the mother of the child found alone in a car, officials have not yet confirmed that the deceased child is also hers.

As ABC 6 reports, police have said that the tragic deaths appear to be an isolated incident and there is no danger to the public.

This is a developing story and all information is preliminary. CrimeOnline will provide further updates when more information is available.

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[Feature image: Aleksey Nemiro from Pixabay]