Nationwide — The family of Victoria King, a 6-year-old African American girl, from Paulding County, Georgia, is devastated and searching for answers after she tragically died during a school field trip in Polk County. Victoria, a first grader at McGarity Elementary School, was on a class outing to Carlton Farms in Rockmart when she was found unresponsive in a swimming pool near a house on the property.
Authorities say a staff member realized Victoria was missing around noon on Wednesday. She was later discovered in the pool, though officials have not publicly identified the exact residence. Her death has left the community heartbroken and her family desperate to understand how such a tragedy could happen.
According to 11 Alive, on Sunday, Victoria’s family released their first public statement, sharing photos of their little girl and expressing their grief. Her uncles and aunts wrote on behalf of her parents, saying the family is “still in deep grief and struggling with unanswered questions.” They say they have not been told how school staff lost track of Victoria, how she accessed the pool, or how long she was there. They also stressed that the pool was not part of the planned field trip and questioned why it was unsecured or unsupervised.
“The family does not understand how a swimming pool on the same property as the field trip was left accessible to students and unguarded,” the statement read. They said they are “heartbroken” and “confused,” and that the lack of clear information has compounded their pain. Adding to their anguish, the family said no one from McGarity Elementary has personally contacted them to offer condolences. While the school community received a general letter, the parents themselves have not received a direct call or visit.
The family did, however, express gratitude to the Rockmart Walmart community and its management, who personally reached out to offer support during their time of mourning. “The family continues to hope that the truth will come out and that justice will be served for Victoria,” they said.
Drone footage of the Carlton Farms property shows a house with a pool on the grounds, though officials have not confirmed whether this is where the incident occurred. Google Maps also shows there are other nearby properties with pools. The investigation remains ongoing.