Found Deceased NC - Maddox Ritch, 6 w/Autism, Gastonia, 22 Sept 2018

[HayLouise]

‘I'll be discussing this case today on HLN @ 1:25 pm PDT. Missing autistic, nonverbal child Maddox Ritch sets off massive search in North Carolina Missing autistic, nonverbal child Maddox Ritch sets off massive search in North Carolina via @usatoday’

Marc Klaas on Twitter

 

[Catmommy]

This stinks in so many ways. Good thoughts and prayers for the little fellow. I hope what I'm thinking is wrong. Let him be alive, please.

 

[HayLouise]

‘Maddox Ritch: Autistic boy disappears from park, still missing as FBI & NCMEC join ‘massive’ search Maddox Ritch: Autistic boy disappears from park, still missing as FBI & NCMEC join ‘massive’ search via @crimeonlinenews’

Leigh Egan on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

More fire trucks, off-road vehicles head toward Rankin Lake Park as crews expand search area for missing 6 year old Maddox Ritch @wcnc

Tanya Mendis on Twitter

*video at link

 

[quidnunc247]

‘Maddox Ritch: Autistic boy disappears from park, still missing as FBI & NCMEC join ‘massive’ search Maddox Ritch: Autistic boy disappears from park, still missing as FBI & NCMEC join ‘massive’ search via @crimeonlinenews’

Leigh Egan on Twitter

I wonder if the search is truly “massive” or if this is simply a colorful description. I hope the weather cooperates. More rain in the region might hinder search efforts.

 

[HayLouise]

‘LOCAL BIZ JOINS IN SEARCH FOR CHILD: Krystal Peninger says she and her coworkers searched around their building that backs up to Rankin Lake Park in Gastonia. She was told the FBI would come and review the company's surveillance video to try and locate missing 6 y/o Maddox Ritch.’

Caroline Fountain on Twitter

*video at link

 

[Grammar]

Just thought I'd chime in here.

I live in Gastonia and work at the end of Tulip Drive which runs right past the park. Cops still had the entrances to the park blocked off this morning as I left.

I spoke to a neighbor of mine who is a Firefighter here in Gastonia and he said he and his crew spent 12 hours yesterday searching the park. He said that he along with some LE are skeptical of the story they have been given regarding the circumstances of how this little boy went missing. Some do not even think he was there at the park at all on Saturday. Of course they are going to search and leave no stone unturned but that is what he said to me this morning.

I hope I am not violating any rules relaying that information and if so mods please delete.

We are praying he is found safe. My wife and I were just there Friday afternoon with our six year old son and younger daughters and it is tough to think about how something like this can happen so close to home.

I remember a situation down here about 20 years ago where two homeschooled kids and their dog (a Rottie, maybe?) disappeared while the parents were cleaning some cabins. The cabins were located on a big hunt property not far from Deland but on the other side of the river. Lots of trees, low lands, and water. LE took the parents into town for polygraphs and mom failed miserably. Homeschooling hadn’t gained quite the toehold it has now (although we were homeschooling my daughter and we also lived about 15 miles from the camp. My husband had logged the property across the road from there). Everyone was certain the parents had killed those two kids and dumped them in the woods. Shortly after LE “let slip” that mom failed the poly, the kids and dog were found safe. They had gone out exploring and gotten lost. I always try to remember that things aren’t always the way they appear. I don’t always succeed, but I do try.

 

[HayLouise]

‘More searchers head out to look for Maddox Ritch. The little boy has been missing since Saturday.’

Tanya Mendis on Twitter

*video at link

 

[Grammar]

Having actually been on this trail so frequently made me question the report that he had ran off ahead instantly. When you are on the trail, you can see still see the full trail and lake. The view is unobstructed so no way to imagine he ran off ahead 'quickly'. There had to have been a good bit of time that he was not in eyesight....(which is inexcusable with a small child, this close to water)
The only thing optimistic at all is that no BODY has been found. ..... but even with that, he did not just vanish. Not one reported sighting of him since dads report. ( and we still dont know if it has even been confirmed he really was even there before then)...
Abduction actually seems like the least possibility. Even with law enforcement now stating it's not ruled out, they have not pushed that theory as urgent in any way. They have actually been more vocal about asking again for pictures or videos the public may have from before he disappeared..... That is really worrisome because it makes it appear as if they still dont know if he ever was there yet..

In the photo of the complete trail that you posted (and thank you very much! It’s very helpful), it looks like there are some heavily wooded areas. If dad and his friend were focusing on one another rather than on watching Maddox (and let’s be honest, even the most vigilant parents let their guard down or get sidetracked now and then), knowing how fast the little escapers can be, it wouldn’t take him long to disappear into those woods, where there are plenty of places for a little boy to hide. It isn’t hard to miss a small person hiding in the woods. Tracking dogs are great, but they aren’t perfect and can miss the person they’re looking for. Just hoping the little guy shows up soon. Hungry and tired but no worse for wear

 

[AmyPond]

I pray that you didn't think my comment was directed towards any loving parent who has an autistic child- no, no, no, that is not what I meant at all, and I am so very very sorry if you took it that way! I was thinking about little Joe, who's father admitted to killing him and his body hasn't been found because he won't tell where little Joe is, and little DanielTheriot, who was beaten to death by the mother's boyfriend for not listening or behaving. This was never directed at any of the wonderful parents of autistic children who take great care of their darlings and love them with all of their hearts and souls. I have several family members and friends that know of your daily struggles far better than I do, and I commend all of you loving and caring parents for facing these daily challenges, often without help. I've stated on this board several times that parents with autistic children need help and support from the community and medical profession.

Remind me again who Joe was? Sounds familiar but I can't remember now.

My friend's autistic son runs full speed ahead as soon as he escapes out of a door. She can not catch him on foot. It happens.

I agree...kids can be hard to catch on foot. But typically one would still be able to see them. At the very least to see which direction they ran off into. I'm not sure if that sounds like the case here. So maybe they had their eyes off him for a long time or something? I don't know.

 

[HayLouise]

‘DAY 3: @FBICharlotte helping search for missing boy with autism at Gaston Co. park @CNN’

NCMEC on Twitter

 

[MsFacetious]

Remind me again who Joe was? Sounds familiar but I can't remember now.

ACTIVE SEARCH - Tn - Joseph "joe Clyde" Daniels, 5, Dickson, 3 Apr 2018 *autistic* *arrests* #2

In the photo of the complete trail that you posted (and thank you very much! It’s very helpful), it looks like there are some heavily wooded areas. If dad and his friend were focusing on one another rather than on watching Maddox (and let’s be honest, even the most vigilant parents let their guard down or get sidetracked now and then), knowing how fast the little escapers can be, it wouldn’t take him long to disappear into those woods, where there are plenty of places for a little boy to hide. It isn’t hard to miss a small person hiding in the woods. Tracking dogs are great, but they aren’t perfect and can miss the person they’re looking for. Just hoping the little guy shows up soon. Hungry and tired but no worse for wear

I so hope this is the case too. I'm not sure how to feel on this one.... not enough being released.
The initial report is so similar to Daniel Theriot... but I hope it's not the same outcome.

Found Deceased - NV - Daniel Theriot, 3, Sunset Park, Las Vegas, 2 Sep 2018 *ARRESTS*

Sassy..... that must be terrifying. No one can keep eyes 24/7. Everyone has to pee and sleep! So those who judge would not be immune. They just haven't had to realize how impossible it is.

I'm hoping he has the same luck, but water. Boats.... I will be more surprise if the outcome is good. But I'm sure hopinh!

Mine literally escaped when I went to pee.
She was 30 months old. She had never opened an outside door before that.
It took 20 minutes to find her and I went in order of danger. It was summer. Road, water, horse pasture, hot cars. Then repeat.

There were chain locks on all the outside doors and all car doors were locked before we went to bed that night.
With her younger brother we started utilizing them at 24 months. He still hasn't opened an outside door even at 38 months, but we are ready if he does.

 

[JC40]

This has echo's of the DeOrr Kunz case.

 

[HayLouise]

‘We are searching all around the Rankin lake Park for 6-year-old Maddox Ritch. The @GPDNC SWAT team hand searched through dumpsters in the area.’



FBI Charlotte on Twitter

 

[TeaTime]

This has echo's of the DeOrr Kunz case.

Please don't put there out in the universe. Let's all pray that he is found, safe.

 

[AmyPond]

Even if police don't think the parents in cases like this are suspects...do they still watch their Facebook pages and stuff like that?

 

[Steelslady]

Remind me again who Joe was? Sounds familiar but I can't remember now.

Joe Clyde Daniels, his thread is still somewhat active on here. His father confessed to killing Joe, but refuses to say where he put Joe's body. Such a heartbreaking story.

 

[MsFacetious]

Joe Clyde Daniels, his thread is still somewhat active on here. His father confessed to killing Joe, but refuses to say where he put Joe's body. Such a heartbreaking story.

I linked it in my post above.

 

[Steelslady]

Remind me again who Joe was? Sounds familiar but I can't remember now.



I agree...kids can be hard to catch on foot. But typically one would still be able to see them. At the very least to see which direction they ran off into. I'm not sure if that sounds like the case here. So maybe they had their eyes off him for a long time or something? I don't know.

My youngest daughter, who is now in her 20's, could play Houdini within seconds, and I do mean seconds! She was a sweet, friendly, happy go lucky child and is the same as an adult, but when she found something that she wanted to check out or explore, she could be gone within the blink of an eye- no word of lie! We were rattled twice, and thankfully, she was ok both times, having a good old time for herself while my husband and I got gray hairs looking for her. Yet people thought we worried too much by always staying on top of our kids and watching them closely- go figure! Even the best parents out there lose a child at least once, and it is not fun when seconds later, you realize they are missing and you have no idea which direction to look in.

 

[yrmfp]

I wonder if the search is truly “massive” or if this is simply a colorful description. I hope the weather cooperates. More rain in the region might hinder search efforts.

They have brung in a great deal of resources and there has been the constant presence of them but it has all ( that public has seen at least) been limited to the area of the park and now 2 miles surrounding out of it. It is in no way massive but they do have enough agencies assisting to cover a lot of space quickly.
Gastonia Police Department