Authorities ‘strongly believe’ body found in Delaware River is 2-year-old girl lost in deadly Bucks County flood last weekend

Authorities “strongly believe” the body of a young girl found Friday evening in the Delaware River near the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia is that of 2-year-old Matilda Sheils, who disappeared during Saturday’s deadly flash floods in Upper Makefield Township, Bucks County.

Search crews will continue Saturday morning to look for Matilda’s brother, 9-month-old Conrad, Tim Brewer, chief of the Upper Makefield Fire Company, said at a news conference Friday night.

Not counting the missing children, five people are confirmed to have died in the flood, including 32-year-old Katheryn Seley, the children’s mother.

Early Friday evening, the body of a young girl believed to be around 2 years old was recovered from the Delaware near the 3900 block of North Delaware Avenue — 32 miles from where she went missing, Brewer said.

The girl’s body was transported to the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office, where an autopsy will be conducted on Saturday, Brewer said.

Based on the body’s appearance and clothing, ”we strongly believe” the girl is Matilda, Brewer said. An official confirmation needs to be made by the Medical Examiner’s Office.

Three of the victims were identified Monday: Enzo Depiero, 78, of Newtown Township; Susan Barnhart, 53, of Titusville, N.J.; and Seley, of Charleston, S.C. They all were found on Saturday. The children’s father, Jim Sheils, survived, along with a 4-year-old son.

The bodies of Yuko Love, 64, who also had suffered multiple injuries, and Linda Depiero, 74, both of Newtown Township, were recovered Sunday.

The Sheils family, along with a grandmother, was visiting the area from Charleston, S.C.

On Saturday, the family members were driving along a stretch of Washington Crossing Road on the way to a barbecue when they were suddenly met with a swell of rushing water.