Found Deceased NC - Maddox Ritch, 6 w/Autism, Gastonia, 22 Sept 2018 #2

[Curious.1]

mks762 I haven't seen anyone say that the dad is guilty or murdered Maddox. In fact I think the most straightforward explanation is that Maddox did run off down that path and for some reason went or fell into the water and drowned. A mile is not far at all for a very active 6 year old.

 

[IceIce9]

Everyone is innocent until proven guilty and burden of proof lies with accusers. There are no facts to support dad murdering his son unless I'm missing something but I've been following this case since day 1. <modsnipped no link to substantiate>
If we do know for a fact (straight from LE Police confirm Maddox Ritch was at Rankin Lake Park - News - Gaston Gazette - Gastonia, NC ) <modsnipped>
I'm not saying this sweet innocent boy wasn't murdered, I just don't think the dad did it and don't think it's helpful that so many people seem to be locked into that theory and only that theory and trying to make mundane things fit into that theory. It just seems not many other avenues are being explored, like a stranger taking him. Who else was at the park that day? How many SO's live in the area?? Has there been any suspicious activity here in the past?
<modsnipped> You're all doing amazing work here and I do appreciate and read all the posts, I think I'm trying very hard not to be jaded with this one so that's why I've been keeping quiet.

<modsnipped not victim friendly> And I haven’t seen it posted on here either.

I do think many of us do realize that the information provided contradicts and that many questions remain unanswered. And much of the information is rather odd.

 

[heartgoesout]

But wasn't the creek usually very low, heartgoesout? Didn't they say somewhere that with the heavy rain, it had gone up to 2-3 feet deep by the end of the search, when they found him? I don't know much about fishing tho! So I don't know what amount of creek water is enough for fish.

Not sure. Fishing was just an example of how someone on foot could have snatched him and possibly explain the final location he was found.

 

[dfanady]

dfanady I would kindof assume the opposite...an autistic 6 year old would likely have the stamina and running ability to get a mile away, but if someone took him, that would mean a vehicle involved and an adult getting through to the creek (and it looked a bit difficult from the photos). Also an adult on foot would be less physically fit than a wee lad runner IMO, for the general population.

Well, I was thinking that if he was grabbed in the parking lot, or the creek path which was accessible, and dumped later on (from the highway, directly down into the creek), then that person would have not necessarily needed to run, or ever deal with getting to the actual creek from the ground.

Sorry if I wasn't making sense.

 

[Steelslady]

I don’t think many of us believe that he murdered his son. And I haven’t seen it posted on here either.

I do think many of us do realize that the information provided contradicts and that many questions remain unanswered. And much of the information is rather odd.

There was just so much craziness involved surrounding this case, I admit, I could not get a decent grasp on it. A part of my heart felt for the father and it still does, most of us can certainly relate to taking your eyes off of one of your children, and you turn around and they're gone and out of sight.

If the park ranger hadn't said that he didn't think Maddox was ever in the park, I would have continued thinking it was an accidental drowning. For some reason, that made me hesitate, and I didn't know at that point, what to believe.

As time went on, the father added things that made things much clearer- why he couldn't run as fast due to medical issues. But then, we had the FBI and LE several times a day urging people to call in if they were at the park, and other things they kept saying on a daily basis, to which added to myself being confused even further.

I think the majority, if not all of us, would have thought the same- accidental drowning, if that park ranger and several other comments made to the media hadn't confused us all.

That said, my heart goes out to his family and friends- poor little guy, I truly hope he had an amazing run with lots of fun before he ended up in the creek.

 

[darring21]

Wouldn't it be smart to err on the side of not making false accusations? Early on, people were blaming the father on this thread because that had happened in other cases. It got worse when the park ranger didn't think he was in the park. Those accusations were clearly wrong. Now we get that the father was basically - not a good enough father (or was in jail???). If your accusation is wrong, you've made a bad situation worse. What is the benefit to you? Its like being the school yard bully and picking on the weakest kid.
If there is something suspicious, we'll know soon enough.

 

[heartgoesout]

In fairness to the park employee he reported his experience.

 

[darring21]

In fairness to the park employee he reported his experience.

He was wrong and it would have been no consequence if he had just reported it to police. Instead, he felt the need to share his false accusation with the public. What purpose did that serve?

 

[MyTinkieGirl]

Wouldn't it be smart to err on the side of not making false accusations? Early on, people were blaming the father on this thread because that had happened in other cases. It got worse when the park ranger didn't think he was in the park. Those accusations were clearly wrong. Now we get that the father was basically - not a good enough father (or was in jail???). If your accusation is wrong, you've made a bad situation worse. What is the benefit to you? Its like being the school yard bully and picking on the weakest kid.
If there is something suspicious, we'll know soon enough.

I don't know how many times I've said - maybe, perhaps, nothing bad, nothing nefarious, Maddox was in the park, the father didn't hurt Maddox, and probably a vast multitude of other terms just so people wouldn't jump up and down and accuse others/myself of making false accusations.
I haven't seen anyone say he was a bad father or was in jail. (Where the heck did THAT come from?)
Maybe other people feel like they're bullied on the other side, as well. I do. We don't all have to have the same opinion. <modsnipped against TOS> It's called a thought, a question, a theory.
As LE stated we'll have a "time line" shortly.

 

[Lillymac]

Did the park ranger make the comment about not seeing Maddox in the 911 call or in a later statement?

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

“GASTONIA, NC (WBTV) - The 6-year-old boy who sparked an intense search at a Gastonia park was at the park before he disappeared, Gastonia police confirmed Wednesday, hours after reopening the park to the public.” (BBM)
Maddox Ritch was at park before disappearance, police confirm

 

[MyTinkieGirl]

Did the park ranger make the comment about not seeing Maddox in the 911 call or in a later statement?

Later on in a different interview. He said he believed Maddox wasn't in the park.

 

[MyTinkieGirl]

For darring21:

Got it. Thanks! Not good. I agree.

 

[heartgoesout]

He was wrong and it would have been no consequence if he had just reported it to police. Instead, he felt the need to share his false accusation with the public. What purpose did that serve?

He did not see the little boy and felt it possible he was not in the park at all. He was wrong. I don’t think he did anything wrong. Police would have told him to stay quiet and keep that to himself otherwise.
The police have only said Maddox was in the park. They have not said where or with who at this point.

 

[Steelslady]

Well, I am so very sorry for admitting several times that I got confused and didn't know which way to think. I have also shown, in my opinion, much empathy towards the Dad and any other parents that have lost a child- I even said how lucky most of us all were, that our children were found safe and sound, and how tragic it is for those parents who aren't so lucky.

I don't know what more that I can say, but because this thread is taking an unfriendly and hostile direction, I am going to go elsewhere and try and focus on others missing people now. Maddox has been found, and I am grateful that the little darling will be laid to rest and hopefully, his death was just an accidental drowning. I wouldn't want to be in any parent's shoes if they found out that perhaps a predator was there and harmed their child- an accident is horrific enough to deal with, but that is so much worse. Prayers for Maddox's family and friends, I wish them peace, strength, and courage to help them through this painful time.

 

[darring21]

He did not see the little boy and felt it possible he was not in the park at all. He was wrong. I don’t think he did anything wrong. Police would have told him to stay quiet and keep that to himself otherwise.
The police have only said Maddox was in the park. They have not said where or with who at this point.

My point is not to berate you, and I apologize if it comes off that way... but that we should be careful with our words. What was the point of him telling it to the public? If he was correct, Maddox wasn't in the park, the police would already be pursuing that. I guess he gets the benefit of being on record as being correct. If he is wrong, which it appears he was, he dramatically fans the flames of false accusations. That's a pretty big consequence.

 

[heartgoesout]

My point is not to berate you, and I apologize if it comes off that way... but that we should be careful with our words. What was the point of him telling it to the public? If he was correct, Maddox wasn't in the park, the police would already be pursuing that. I guess he gets the benefit of being on record as being correct. If he is wrong, which it appears he was, he dramatically fans the flames of false accusations. That's a pretty big consequence.

His perception was his perception. If he felt something was off and felt uncomfortable with the events, actions and behaviors of the day, his concern and heart was with a missing little boy, not being careful of his words about the adults who he strongly felt were odd.

 

[Cartie]

I don't know how many times I've said - maybe, perhaps, nothing bad, nothing nefarious, Maddox was in the park, the father didn't hurt Maddox, and probably a vast multitude of other terms just so people wouldn't jump up and down and accuse others/myself of making false accusations.
<modsnipped not victim friendly> It's called a thought, a question, a theory.
As LE stated we'll have a "time line" shortly.

<modsnipped> Everything the father has said and done have been ripped apart and looked at.

 

[MissMalowe]

I do understand your point about his "fanning the flames" and agree with it. (I myself definitely questioned Maddox being in the park after THAT interview aired)

But I try to also remember that despite his account being wrong, that it doesn't mean his account was necessarily dishonest. I also try to keep in mind that he was the one who not only physically made the call to 911 but who seems to be the one who made the decision that things had progressed to a point that SOMEONE should call.

Why does any witness go on camera? They only have to make sure LE knows. No one (even those saying he was in the park) HAVE to submit to a tv interview.

 

[Justice101]

The autopsy will shed a lot of light on all of this. The body will be expected to have signs of lots of bruises due to the pressure of the water pushing the body into and against roots, rocks, tree trunks, etc.

The condition of his lungs will prove if he drowned or not. And if he did drown like it sounds like it did, there will vbe no way to tell if he got pushed into the water or fell in on his own.