Body of missing Lake County toddler found in canal

The Lake County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of a missing toddler, whose body was found submerged in a canal near Groveland on Tuesday afternoon. 

The Sheriff's Office received a call around 1 p.m. to respond to a missing two-year-old girl. Friends of the parents were babysitting the girl.  When they realized Alexa Escuders was missing, they called authorities right away.

Deputies, Groveland police officers, a bloodhound unit, and a helicopter searched for the girl. They found her in a nearby canal.  She was rushed to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.

The investigation is ongoing, according to the Sheriff's Office.  FOX 35 has a crew gathering details on this case and we will have updates during FOX 35 News at 10 p.m.