Dad of boy found in Westboro pool speaks out

WESTBORO, Mass. (WHDH) -- The heartbroken family of a 4-year-old boy, who was found dead in an apartment complex’s swimming pool, spoke about their loss on Monday.

Chris Lepoer, fighting back tears, struggled with the raw pain of losing his son, Alexie. Lepoer said he and his wife always worked opposite shifts so one of them could be around for their seven children, especially for their autistic son Alexie.

“He was an amazing kid,” Lepoer said. “You can’t imagine. It’s like you lost a piece of yourself. It’s the only thing you can possibly…”

Lepoer said on Sunday afternoon his autistic son disappeared after climbing out of the family’s first-floor apartment window at the Park Village Complex in Westboro. Alexie made his way to the swimming pool, according to Lepoer, and when police arrived to assist in the search it was too late.

“Very cloudy pool, they were in the process of setting it up for the season,” said Chief Alan Gordon of the Westboro police department. “When the divers went in the water it took them about 15 minutes and they were able to locate the young child at the bottom of the pool in the deep end.”

Police said it is unclear how Alexie ended up in the pool, which is surrounded by a locked fence. The boy’s father said he thinks Alexie crawled underneath it.

“You can pull the fence up and go right there,” said Lepoer. “He had to have pulled up the fence and went underneath, he had to have.”

Despite his disability, Lepoer said Alexie was adventurous. He said he had three locks on his apartment door just to keep his son from getting out. Now, Lepoer is in agony as he thinks of the last time he saw his young son.

“I kissed him goodbye, went to work. Beautiful, beautiful blonde hair blue eyed -- he was amazing,” said Lepoer.

The apartment management company has not commented.

Authorities are awaiting the autopsy results.