The body of the seven-year-old autistic boy has been found.

The Wood County Sheriff's Department says it was located around 11 a.m. today in a pond adjacent to the Ten Mile Creek, less than a mile from his home in the town of Saratoga.

The body of Benjamin "Benjy" Heil was found by a dog-search team in an area searched on a continuous basis, authorities say.

The pond is 25-feet deep.

An autopsy will be performed tomorrow to determine an exact cause of death.

"We combed so many woods searching for him," says Lynette Burdick, a volunteer searcher. "It's just a tragedy."

It was a difficult announcement for everyone who either knew Heil, or came to know him through pictures and stories as the playful little boy who loved Buzz Lightyear and Bob the Builder.

"A lot of people love him," says volunteer searcher Pete Gilson. "Always will."

Today marked the fifth day of the search.

Yesterday's search had been called off due to severe weather.

Lieutenant Dave Laude of the Wood County Sheriff's Department told volunteers waiting to go out yesterday afternoon that it would be unsafe, but he asked them to return today and bring as many others as possible to help.

Heil had been playing in the basement of his home last Thursday when his family realized he was gone and called authorities.

The home is about 400 yards from the Wisconsin River, but Nekoosa Fire Chief Ken Hartje had said it's unlikely he'd be found there.

The chief says dog teams swept through area near the river Sunday night and found no trace of the boy's scent.

Hundreds of volunteers and rescue personnel braved weekend rain and humidity to join the search for the boy.

"I've never seen anything like it," says Laude. "They can all be proud of themselves regardless of how this turned out."

"It's not easy right now," Gilson said. "I believe the Lord is looking over all of us though."