NC NC - Zach Walker, 7, Autistic, Non-Verbal, wearing only a diaper, last seen 7:28pm in his front yard, S Lomax Rd, Ronda, 20 Aug 2024, *Active Search*

[Unalienable Rights]

Missing Wilkes County boy found dead, EMS says

A missing 8-year-old boy was found dead in a pond.

www.wxii12.com

WILKES COUNTY, N.C. —
The Wilkes County Sheriff's Office is asking the public to help find a missing 7-year-old named Zach Walker.

Authorities said the child is a non-verbal boy with autism.

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From article: He was last seen in the front yard of his home on South Lomax in Ronda. He was wearing only a diaper.

From the video: His grandparents said that he can hear, but is non-verbal and communicates by "snaps and pops." If anyone sees and approaches him, they should use short words.

8-year-old boy missing from Ronda home

thewilkesrecord.com

(This article gives his age as 8, the other article gives his age as 7.)

His step-grandfather says search is being conducted ..."Wednesday, Aug. 21, that "every fire department around" along with deputies with the Wilkes County Sheriff's Office and Wilkes EMS were involved in the search.

 

[PommyMommy]

Missing Wilkes County boy found dead, EMS says

A missing 8-year-old boy was found dead in a pond.

www.wxii12.com

He was last seen at 7:28 p.m. on Aug. 20.

Search underway for missing boy

At press time Wednesday, a search was underway in the Lomax area of eastern Wilkes County for a 7-year-old boy who has been reported missing.

www.journalpatriot.com

The search for him began about 8 p.m.

 

[PommyMommy]

AUG 21, 2024

8-year-old boy missing from Ronda home

thewilkesrecord.com

• Reins (step-grandfather of Zach Walker) says Zach is generally a happy boy. "He likes to run and play."
• He also said, "every fire department around" along with deputies with the Wilkes County Sheriff's Office and Wilkes EMS were involved in the search.
• Searchers were using K-9's and also infrared equipped drones.
• Ronda Fire Chief Zach Key said that several ponds in the area were being searched.
• It got into the 50’s last night.

 

[tlcya]

has there been any mention of previous attempts at elopement or an attraction to/for water?

There are several bodies of water along S. Lomax Rd. depending on where his residence is located along that stretch I hope he hasn't wandered near them. in addition the houses are some distance from one another, being more rural than city, and lots of wooded areas. Hoping for the best on this one.

ETA I see now @PommyMommy posted they are searching area ponds.

 

[OldCop]

This is a very rural area, lots of farmland. There are not many homes on South Lorax Rd. I wish we knew if ZW’s home was near one of the intersections with another road.
First pic shows the rural landscape. Second shows roads and more visible ponds and streams.
Hope they find this little one soon.

 

[OldCop]

@tlcya Guess we think alike. I was writing while you were posting.

 

[swanniee11]

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MISSING BOY FOUND / BREAKING: Wilkes County EMS confirms missing 7-year-old Zach Walker has been found. Authorities would not say where or what condition he was found in. Updates to come we're told from theWilkes County Sheriff's Officee.

 

[Unalienable Rights]

Missing Wilkes County boy found dead, EMS says

A missing 8-year-old boy was found dead in a pond.

www.wxii12.com

WILKES COUNTY, N.C. —
UPDATE 8/21/24 at 12:33 p.m.: Wilkes County EMS tells WXII that Zach has been found. It is not clear where nor his condition, at this time.

 

[loveisthemovement]

Missing Wilkes County boy found dead, EMS says

A missing 8-year-old boy was found dead in a pond.

www.wxii12.com

WILKES COUNTY, N.C. —
UPDATE 8/21/24 at 12:33 p.m.: Wilkes County EMS tells WXII that Zach has been found. It is not clear where nor his condition, at this time.

That article has been updated to say he has been found deceased.

 

[TTF14]

That article has been updated to say he has been found deceased.

Oh no

 

[DS2021]

That article has been updated to say he has been found deceased.

Deputies with the Wilkes County Sheriff's Office had been looking for Zach Walker, Tuesday night through Wednesday morning. Then, Wednesday at 1:15 p.m., the Wilkes County responders announced that they had found his body near a pond.

 

[tlcya]

awe man

sigh. very sorry to read this outcome.

 

[tlcya]

Authorities are not able to share exactly where the child died, and they do not have a cause of death at this time.
Missing Wilkes County boy found dead, EMS says

Key said when the boy left home, he was wearing only a T-shirt and undergarments. “It got into the 50’s last night,” he said.
8-year-old boy missing from Ronda home

According to Wilkes County EMS, they were searching for 7-year-old Zechariah “Zach” Walker, who left his Ronda home. According to EMS officials, he was found dead just after noon in a pond near his home.
https://www.wnct.com/news/north-car...missing-autistic-7-year-old-in-wilkes-county/

 

[abanddb123]

Well someone saw him in the yard yesterday evening. I don't like this. Sounds wierd. Sorry, my opinion only. Who was watching him?

 

[borndem]

His body was found in or near a pond near his home... Oh, so very sad.
Did he fall into the pond, then somehow get out of the pond and die from a near-drowning due to exhaustion?
Did he just get tired and then expire? A snakebite, perhaps?
Did he fall and injure his head, leading to his death?
Did someone kill him or drown him and then take him to where he was found?
Hoping we will get more details of this sadness and death.
SMH
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A bit about Ronda, NC - -
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Ronda is a town in Wilkes County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 417 at the 2010 census, and 413 at the 2020 census.
[...]
Altitude: 315.163 m
Wikipedia
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[Goecke]

Thanks, @DS2021, for the article above -- "...they found his body near a pond." How very sad.
Did he fall in the pond, then somehow get out of the pond and die from a near-drowning due to exhaustion?
Did he just get tired and expired? A snakebite, perhaps?
Did he fall and injure his head, leading to his death?
Did someone wound, then kill him and then take him to where he was found?
Hoping we will get more details of this sadness and death.
SMH

The article is now saying he was found *in* a pond. Perhaps it was updated to clear up any confusion?

 

[tlcya]

if not in but near a pond after having gotten wet, with temps being in the 50s last night could hypothermia also be a factor? Perhaps a combination of being wet and the drop in temps after sunset.

Hypothermia and Cold Temperature Exposure.

Either that or he was in the pond and drowned, either way, very sad outcome.

 

[azure]

"According to the National Autism Association, accidental drowning accounts for 91% of deaths reported in children with ASD who are 14 years old and younger."

Source: UTHealth Houston

 

[DS2021]

"According to the National Autism Association, accidental drowning accounts for 91% of deaths reported in children with ASD who are 14 years old and younger."

Source: UTHealth Houston

Literally only takes a second.

 

[swanniee11]

Heartbreaking again. My prayers are with Zach and his family.