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Police identify 9-year-old girl who died after being pulled from southeast Columbus pond

The girl was identified as Marleah Harber on Monday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Division of Police has identified the 9-year-old girl who died after she was found in a pond at a southeast Columbus apartment complex on Sunday.

The incident happened in the 3900 block of Bogdon Drive near The Cove Apartments.

According to police, Marleah Harber had wandered away from her home and was reported missing around 4 p.m.

Cindy Winterbauer said she was walking her dog when Marleah's father told her the girl was missing. 

After looking around the apartment complex for about 30 minutes, Winterbauer's granddaughter suggested looking by the pond. 

That's when the two saw a body in the pond. 

"I was hoping it wasn't her," Winterbauer said. "I was hoping that someone had thrown something in the pond. But as soon as I saw the clothes that were described she had on, I knew it was her."

Winterbauer called police and officers pulled Marleah from the water and performed CPR until first responders arrived.

She was taken to Nationwide Children's Hospital where she later died.

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