LOUISBURG, N.C. (WNCN) — The body of a seven-year-old Louisburg boy who went missing in a Franklin County river last week was found Tuesday afternoon, officials said. The boy went missing on March 17 in the Tar River behind Hodges Road, which is between Louisburg and Franklinton. Tuesday, ar ound 5:10 p.m., White confirmed crews had recovered the body of Ronald Brodie Jr. "Though he is no longer with us, we know his spirit will live on in the hearts of so many forever," White said in a statement. The NCSBI said Ronald is from Louisburg. Photo of Ronald Brodie Jr. from the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. According to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, crews located Ronald around 1 p.m. after Nash County Sheriff's K9 Fiji led them to a rocky, partially-submerged cave not far from where he went under the water. Ronald's family said he was playing along the river in the late afternoon with his 13-year-old sister and another teenage girl under adult supervision when he disappeared. "We've had three independent dogs hit in this general area," Franklin County Emergency Management Director Nicholas Thorpe said. Drones, sonar technology, and dive crews were deployed in the nine-day effort to find the child. The NCSBI said that during the last five days, four human remains detection K-9s and their handlers searched nearly 11 miles of the river and shoreline, logging over 100 hours of work. K-9 Fiji, from the NC Trooper's Association K-9 Search and Recovery Unit that helped recover multiple bodies after Hurricane Helene, was the cadaver dog who found the missing child in Tar River in Franklin County. CBS 17 first met Fiji and her handler, Nash County Deputy Jack Thorpe, back in October after spending days in western NC. "Anytime we're talking about cave diving and looking at these voids, there are a lot of safety concerns with silt and debris that are piled up in these areas," Thorpe said. "We don't want anything to go wrong in our search effort, so we have to take it methodically, slowly, and safely." White said he hopes Tuesday's news helps to bring "closure to Ronald’s tremendously strong family". "While the outcome is not at all what we prayed for, I am beyond grateful to the folks at Franklin County Emergency Management Services, our local fire rescue professionals, and our partners in law enforcement," he said in his statement. "Let this tragedy be yet another reminder of how precious life can be," White continued in his statement. "Hold your loved ones close and be grateful for each and every day the Lord has blessed us with." ...read more read less