Ohio HOA rejects plaque for boy who drowned in community pond

A homeowners association in Maineville, Ohio, has denied a request to install a permanent memorial plaque for a 10-year-old boy who died in a local pond last month.

Kamronbek Abdakimov, who was non-verbal and had autism, drowned in October in a pond located off Hammerwood Court. He would have turned 11 years old just days after the date of his death.

After the incident, nearby residents gathered to create a temporary memorial of toys and flowers next to the water. They then petitioned the HOA board for permission to attach a small plaque with Kamronbek's name to an existing bench by the pond.

The board voted to reject the proposal. In an email sent to residents, the community manager explained that the board declined to set a precedent for individual memorials in shared spaces. The message noted that residents have experienced other tragic losses in the past and that the board needs to treat such requests consistently.

Neighbors have reacted with frustration to the decision. Merrick Reynolds, a resident, described the outcome as a complicated no when it should have been a simple yes. Reynolds added that the tragedy shook the community and that neighbors rallied around the family despite language and cultural differences.

Another resident, who has an 11-year-old daughter, called the response callous. The neighbor said they could not imagine what the family is going through. Without a permanent marker, toys and flowers continue to accumulate at the pond as neighbors pay their respects.

The HOA board has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the specific reasoning behind the vote.