A woman arrested on suspicion of murder after the death of two-year-old Annabel Mackey at a village pond has been released but remains under investigation.
Hampshire police said the woman in her 40s had been detained under the Mental Health Act before her release.
Officers were called to Annabel’s home near Bordon, Hampshire, just after 5pm on Sunday, after reports that she had disappeared.
She was found unconscious a short time later in Kingsley Pond and taken to hospital. She died on Monday.
A police spokesperson said the girl’s family was being supported by specialist officers as the investigation continued.
Neighbours of Annabel expressed their shock and paid tribute to the toddler.
Her parents were named locally as Peter and Alice Mackey, who live on a secluded road in the village of Kingsley, about half a mile from the pond.
Local people said they had heard an adult shouting for help at the pond and then saw someone being put into an ambulance covered in blankets.
A man who lives on the same road said: “The whole place was cordoned off and then we were asked by CID if we had any footage on our camera, which we do. There’s nothing, we can’t see the little one, the family, nothing.
The man, who did not want to be named, said: “She was a beautiful little girl.
“Obviously her mum was with her most of the time. We used to regularly see Alice and Annabel walking around here. Alice would always be holding her hand and quite often they’d walk up the common because it’s a beautiful place to walk.
He added: “We moved here simply because it’s idyllic, we knew it was safe. This has shocked us to the core.
A female neighbour at another address close to the Mackeys’ home said: “We’re really upset.
“Whenever we saw her in the village she didn’t really speak, she gave us little smiles. She was a sweet little girl. She was very, very quiet and shy. Timid I would say.”
Another resident said they had heard an adult voice at the pond shouting “help me, help me” around the time of the incident.
Police officers were seen patrolling the pond on Monday. The area is popular for fishing and dog walkers, with many parents and children also walking around the area.
The Rev Matt Boyes, vicar of All Saints church, expressed condolences on behalf of the parish community. He said: “It’s every parent’s nightmare for this to be happening and the impact on the wider community will be huge as well.”
