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

[LietKynes]

I don't know that I believe that. If he ran out of his sight it shouldn't take much to sprint after him if he was watching where he ran.

I feel he was probably distracted. Once I heard he was with someone else but they didn't specify who, I kind of figured it was probably a romantic interest.

BBM

Agreed.

A six year old boy ? And if another adult was with Maddox and his dad-- wouldn't THAT person be able to run a bit and catch up with Maddox ?

Not sure if there's been foul play--- but it looks like the dad might be withholding information.
If your kid is missing-- just be honest. If you were talking to your girlfriend, just looking around at the park, or letting your kid be with some other people for a moment -- just say so.
No one is blaming him for being a bit distracted.
That's not a crime.

Going to say this and it might be like the 'elephant in the room', but were the dad and friend doing anything that would make them less observant of Maddox ?

Were they drinking or smoking weed ? In some states pot is legal in public areas (like CO), so it wouldn't be a criminal act-- but it would be a distraction , and any number of kids could run off and get lost. It just takes a moment of carelessness.
Imo.

 

[HayLouise]

Police will still not identify the other adult who was allegedly with Maddox and his father on Saturday #FindMaddox @SpecNewsCLT

Katy Solt on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

Police Chief: Not ready to say when search could end. @WCCBCharlotte

Marvin Beach on Twitter

 

[rosesfromangels]

I'm not watching but I trust you.

Once I heard he was with someone else there with the kid I doubted he harmed his child.

I hope no one took the little man and that Maddox didn't end up on the water.

Did they search with divers?

Yes - they have FBI divers with special equip there now. I agree with you that this is where he will be found. As an aside, the little guy looks just like his dad. : (

 

[HayLouise]

"We've worked very hard with him and Maddox's mom, we feel that the information they've provided to us is accurate." #FindMaddox #MaddoxRitch #CLTNews

Jonathan McCall on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

Sherry Lynch (FBI) reiterates anyone who was at the park needs to call the tip line at 704-869-1075. She also, again, requested that people stop sharing rumors on social media. #FindMaddox

NBC Charlotte on Twitter

 

[rosesfromangels]

They are specifically looking for a male jogger who was running around the track that day. (Saturday) in addition to the guy pulling the kayak out of the water. They think the kayak guy might have seen something.

Amateur opinion and speculation

 

[borndem]

I just keep thinking that if he had been snatched up by someone, he likely wouldn't have been able to scream for help. And how many kids of that age would have anyway? The first thing a snatcher would do is somehow make it so the child couldn't cry for help.
Five days is a long, long, time. A very long time -- even for an adult. SMH.
Mother, father, girlfriend. People in the park. No one saw anything odd?
Someone could certainly have had a car running, picked up the first child close to him/her, and could be anywhere by now. Anywhere. SMH.

 

[LietKynes]

Police will still not identify the other adult who was allegedly with Maddox and his father on Saturday #FindMaddox @SpecNewsCLT

Katy Solt on Twitter

That's odd. What does it matter when a child is missing ?
Are they looking closely at this person ? From what the employee who made the 911 call -- it was a female.
What would be the reason for LE to conceal her identity ?

This is about Maddox missing and nothing else !

 

[Natusry]

As the parent of an autistic adult, I feel horrible the parents are crucified on Sm. It is more likely the boy did bolt and probably drown than foul play. The father sounded distraught and sincere to me.
My daughter escapes and bolts so often that we can never go out without at least two other adults. When she was a child, it was so bad, we rarely risked taking her out to parks or near water.

 

[rosesfromangels]

What would be the reason for LE to conceal her identity ?

Respectfully snipped for focus.
I am speculating they haven't mentioned her name for a few different reasons.
First, I speculate they interrogated her and eliminated her as a suspect.
Second, if she has been eliminated as a suspect, there is no need for her to be part of the narrative.
Third, by eliminating said woman from the narrative, they keep the focus on the missing child vs. examination of the father's parenting skills. To your good point, the focus needs to be on finding the child, not on anything else.

Amateur speculation and opinion only.

 

[HayLouise]

After five days of searching, Gastonia PD Chief Robert Helton says, “Everybody is still eager to get here and find this child.” #FindMaddox @wsoctv

DaShawn Brown on Twitter

*video at link

 

[LietKynes]

They are specifically looking for a male jogger who was running around the track that day. (Saturday) in addition to the guy pulling the kayak out of the water. They think the kayak guy might have seen something.

Amateur opinion and speculation

BBM

Those two people keep coming up in LE pressers.
My .02 is that anyone noticing a person grabbing and throwing a child into a vehicle would've come forward by now !
I'm not sensing there was an abduction.

Also, LE keeps asking for anyone at the park to come forward. Makes me think they really don't have enough information.
And that's sad.

The information about the male jogger came from the dad and no one else.
Not sure about the kayaker info.

 

[rosesfromangels]

As the parent of an autistic adult, I feel horrible the parents are crucified on Sm. It is more likely the boy did bolt and probably drown than foul play. The father sounded distraught and sincere to me.
My daughter escapes and bolts so often that we can never go out without at least two other adults. When she was a child, it was so bad, we rarely risked taking her out to parks or near water.

Agree 100% - the child will most likely be found in the lake. : ( Agree the father is being sincere.

 

[gitana1]

Agree 100% - the child will most likely be found in the lake. : ( Agree the father is being sincere.

Super sad. Have divers just arrived? Have they gone in already?

 

[razzledazzle]

I am new to the site. I just want to say I hope and pray they find this adorable little guy hiding out in a tree or bush or something. To those who are more experienced following these cases, who thinks this may be a stranger abduction? Was there anything in the press conference to lead you to believe LE is leaning towards this being the case?

Welcome!!

I'm not sure which away they are leaning. My personal opinion at this time is lost/in the water or stranger abduction. There seems to be a reason they want 100% contact with everyone at the park that day. I think anyone who doesn't check in, (that LE has any info to assist in tracking them down), will be investigated. JMO MOO

 

[borndem]

I think any parent would feel terribly guilty. Guilty that they let the child out of their sight for a moment or let him run out of arm's reach.

People consistently blame themselves when their kids die or get hurt. That's super common.

bbm
I certainly would -- no matter how it would end -- kidnapping, yes, I should've watched closer; drowning, same; lost in the woods, same. Especially with a special-needs child.
If he is alive -- IMO, he's been kidnapped most likely, and probably long gone.
If he is found nearby and deceased, it may be the autopsy which will tell the story unless there is an obvious bad wound -- still the autopsy/ME will be the authority.
That sweet little boy. And how would he be with people unknown to him? IMO, not good, not good at all. If kidnapped -- did the kidnappers know he was a special-needs child? If not, that could be very bad for that little boy. JMO.

 

[AmyPond]

Yes - they have FBI divers with special equip there now. I agree with you that this is where he will be found. As an aside, the little guy looks just like his dad. : (

I am torn because I do think the water seems like a likely place to find him.

But the Dad makes it sound like his eyes were on him so shouldn't he have seen him fall into the water?

I don't know. It's all very strange and sad.

I don't think a stranger took him. It doesn't look like it would be that easy to sneak away with a child there.

 

[HayLouise]

Ian Ritch now claims that he has neuropathy in his feet, due to diabetes, and that can make it difficult for him to run. He did not disclose that medical issue to us when we interviewed him earlier

David Begnaud on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

SEARCH FOR MADDOX RITCH: I spoke with a child psychologist who specializes in children with autism. He tells me Maddox being on the spectrum and nonverbal will make the search process more complicated...for more reasons then you may think. @WCCBCharlotte

Alexandra Elich on Twitter