Found Deceased CO - Sebastian Castro Rivas, 3, Eagle, 5 June 2020

[Acorunadepor]

I read the Sheriff's release to mean he was last seen by his family in the apartment and reported missing. LE then received a tip/sighting of a boy matching his description on a playground shortly after. I think that means he slipped out of his house holding the phone and went down to a playground - where he was last seen by a witness.

I agree it was phrased weirdly though. They should have said the playground sighting was a witness and NOT his family.

But when was this sighting then? Because if he is missing from the appartment, they themselves would have looked at the playground. They would have seen the boy with the similar description. That's what is adding to the confusion, I think.

Everybody with kids, knows how lighting fast 3 year olds can be. And they can be good at hiding. He must have hit the water immediately. Otherwise they would have found him themselves.

 

[cass523]

UPDATE 10:00am 6/8/20: Sebastian Castro Search

As reported yesterday, search efforts have shifted to focus on the river, with no land-based searches taking place. Thank you to everyone who volunteered over the weekend for your assistance.

Vail Police Department conducted a pre-dawn thermal drone mission in the Eagle Villas area today, mostly focusing on the river banks, with no success. Vail Mountain Rescue will be out on the river again today with the assistance of Garfield County Search and Rescue. Multiple boat teams will be searching along the river throughout the day.

River levels remain very high, with strong currents and a significant amount of underwater debris. The public is discouraged from conducting their own searches along the riverbanks and is requested to allow the river professionals to focus on these areas.

Due to low call volume, the tip line will no longer be monitored as of 5:00 pm today. Information that may assist in locating Sebastian can be shared via the non-emergency number for Vail Public Safety Communications Center (911 Dispatch): (970) 479-2201.

Eagle County PIO

 

[cass523]

Isn't there some kind of law that an apartment complex should have a fence with a gate along the stretch of water it borders?

I looked at the property and I can't tell if there is a fence.

Google Maps

 

[alexwood]

It is as clear as mud (IMO).

1. Sebastian was last seen at his apartment at Eagle Villas off Nogal Road. Eagle police later learned that there was a young boy with a similar description on the playground at the apartment complex around 9 p.m. Friday.
Search continues Sunday for missing 3-year-old from Eagle

2. Eagle Police has learned that there was a young boy with a similar description of Sebastian on the playground at the Eagle Villas, 405 Nogal Rd, Eagle, CO around 9:00pm last night, June 5, 2020.
Eagle County PIO

3. Rivas was last seen at Eagle Villas on June 5 around 9:20 p.m.
Authorities and community come together to continue search for missing three-year-old boy in Eagle

4. Sebastian was reported missing June 5 at around 9:20 p.m. from the Eagle Villas apartments. A boy matching his description was seen at the playground on the property.
Hundreds Of Volunteers Comb Area For Sebastian Castro, Missing Boy With Autism

 

[SAMS]

Do we know how he got out of the apt at 3? My 4 year old grandbaby can unlock my door but couldn’t say a deadbolt, due to height and difficulty. Was the door unlocked? What do we know? MOO

 

[swanniee11]

@SAMS I think I'm having a hard time thinking a 3yr autistic/non verbal boy walks out of his apt with a cell phone and carries it to the water where it was later found. If nothing else I would think he would have dropped it on the walk or if he was the one playing at the playground he would have left it there. Why would he take the phone, he doesn't talk, maybe to play a game or something, IDK. IMO

 

[SAMS]

@SAMS I think I'm having a hard time thinking a 3yr autistic/non verbal boy walks out of his apt with a cell phone and carries it to the water where it was later found. If nothing else I would think he would have dropped it on the walk or if he was the one playing at the playground he would have left it there. Why would he take the phone, he doesn't talk, maybe to play a game or something, IDK. IMO

Also an article of clothing.


“Authorities say an article of clothing that was positively identified as Sebastian’s was located in the Eagle River.

As a result, the search area was expanded to include additional downstream areas.

The phone he was carrying when he went missing was found today in the river below the apartment complex.”

Im thinking he’s in the water. I still want to know how he got there tho. I agree about the cell. MOO

Authorities and community come together to continue search for missing three-year-old boy in Eagle

 

[Flight154]

As far as the cellphone goes, we know he's nonverbal. It probably has some songs on it that he likes to listen to. My younger boys aren't autistic, but carry around our old phones for the music.

I do very much believe he is in the water, and this won't have a happy ending..

 

[Luckyzmom]

None of the people at the playground saw a red flag ???? This little guy out after 9pm alone ? With a phone ???
Prayers for this little guy to be found soon. The proximity to the river is scary. And there's been some rain in the area over the weekend. I imagine it's running high and fast. MOO

 

[Lori Cooper]

@SAMS I think I'm having a hard time thinking a 3yr autistic/non verbal boy walks out of his apt with a cell phone and carries it to the water where it was later found. If nothing else I would think he would have dropped it on the walk or if he was the one playing at the playground he would have left it there. Why would he take the phone, he doesn't talk, maybe to play a game or something, IDK. IMO

My autistic grandson always has a phone or ipad. He loses himself in games and music, in his own little world.

 

[MsMarple]

Plus, a cell phone would be a good way to track him if he got out of the apartment, although it didn't seem to help this time.

 

[SuziQ]

My autistic grandson always has a phone or ipad. He loses himself in games and music, in his own little world.

Is he three years old though?

 

[cass523]

UPDATE 6:00pm 6/8/20: Sebastian Rodriguez Castro Search

Vail Mountain Rescue ran five search trips down the river in rafts earlier today, followed by searchers in kayaks this afternoon. Unfortunately, they were unable to locate any additional clues that might help locate the 3-year-old-boy. The search is slow and time consuming, as evidenced by these photos, which show the types of river hazards they have encountered over the past several days. Additionally, they have identified approximately 10 spots where conditions are too dangerous, and can only be searched once river levels have subsided.

Tomorrow morning, a dog team will be deployed to conduct searches on several sections of the river as well. No land-based searches will be taking place.

Eagle County PIO

 

[Knox]

The PIO is doing an excellent job keeping the public up to speed on the search, that's rare these days.

Hoping for a miracle!!

 

[MsMarple]

Searchers may have to look much farther downstream. Remember how far Miracle and Tony Crook were found in the water, something like 40 and 90 miles away? Especially if Eagle River is high with strong currents.
Eagle County PIO

 

[TristanP]

Is he three years old though?

My twin niece and nephew could unlock their parents’ phones and navigate to apps they wanted at 2 years old.

 

[cass523]

On Tuesday, a dog team will be conducting searches on several sections of the river as well. No land-based searches will be taking place.

The cell phone that Castro was carrying on Friday night when he was reported missing near the Eagle Villas playground area in Eagle was also found in the river over the weekend below the apartment complex.

The search on the Eagle River is time-consuming. About 10 spots have been identified where conditions are too dangerous and can only be searched once river levels have subsided.

The Eagle River reached peak levels for the season in the days before the boy went missing. More than 500 volunteers helped search Saturday and Sunday before being called off.

“We kindly ask that you respect the privacy of Sebastian’s family during this incredibly difficult time, and assure authorities will continue to follow up and work closely with the family on any and all leads,” wrote Tracy LeClair, the acting public information officer for the inter-agency effort.

Dog teams to aid in search for missing boy

 

[DatelineFan]

Do we know he had a cell phone and not a toy phone? I haven't seen MSM explicity state that it was a cell phone. I haven't read every article though.

And why on earth didn't the witness call 911?

 

[FruitSnack]

Is he three years old though?

If he is non verbal, it’s common to use them as a talking device. There are apps made for non verbal kids to be able to communicate and it’s cheapest to use them on a phone instead of a special device. Some non verbal kids have them on them at all times

 

[Acorunadepor]

If he is non verbal, it’s common to use them as a talking device. There are apps made for non verbal kids to be able to communicate and it’s cheapest to use them on a phone instead of a special device. Some non verbal kids have them on them at all times

These apps can be used to remind him of certain things. To tell his parents if he is hungry, bathroom visits, if he is not feeling well. He can point to visual displays for communication.

So in that sense it's not strange for that three year old to have a phone. The question is how did he leave the house? Around 9.20 pm you assume he is allready in bed for quite a while. So he snuck out and went straight for the river? That's the only scenario I can think of.