victim of a brutal killer.

Police last night were quizzing a young man and said foul play had not been ruled out.

The girl's body was discovered off Longford Hill, near Warwick's Mizzentop dock.

She was whisked to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, but died despite frantic efforts to revive her.

It brought to a tragic end an increasingly desperate search for the youngster, reported missing just after 6.30 p.m. yesterday. And it contrasted starkly with the happy outcome of another search for a missing Pembroke child.

Six-year-old Jessica Pacheco, of Tulo Valley, turned up safely after disappearing from North Street, near Dellwood Primary School, where she is a pupil.

Last night Police spokeswoman Evelyn James Barnett said the tragic five-year-old had reportedly been in the company of a male acquaintance shortly before her death.

Later that evening, cyclists spotted the child floating in the water near the Mizzentop dock, Ms James Barnett said.

The youngster was rushed to hospital, but despite efforts to revive her, was pronounced dead at 8 p.m.

"Foul play has not been ruled out,'' said Ms James Barnett, adding a young man was helping Police with their investigation.

Anyone with information should contact Hamilton Police on 295-0011 or call the confidential Crime Stoppers hotline on 1-800-623-8477.

Police spokesman P.c. Gary Venning said the search for Jessica Pacheco had started after her parents could not find her when they went to pick her up after school.

He said the Dellwood student -- described as about three-foot six inches tall, white with long blonde straight hair -- was last seen at about 3 p.m. on North Street.

At the time she was wearing a Dellwood uniform, including a white shirt, navy skirt and maroon socks.

Police, however, called off the search after she turned up safe and sound.