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

[HayLouise]

Gastonia Police‏ @GPDNC
'Law enforcement and emergency officials continue the search for 6-year-old Maddox Ritch. Maddox went missing on Saturday while at the Rankin Lake Park with family. He has blond hair, blue eyes, weighs... https://www.facebook.com/GastoniaPoliceDepartment/posts/2271276579806833 …'

Gastonia Police on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

Drew Bollea‏ @Drew_WCCB
'At 10 on @WCCBCharlotte : @MorganFogarty tracked down the father of Maddox Ritch who provided her with a statement. We’ll share his comments and have an update on the search for the missing boy.'

Drew Bollea on Twitter

Morgan Fogarty‏Verified account @MorganFogarty
Replying to @Drew_WCCB @WCCBCharlotte
'Here's what Maddox's dad told me >>>'



Morgan Fogarty on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

FBI Charlotte‏Verified account @FBICharlotte

'Do not spread rumors on social media about the search for Maddox Ritch. Information is being released by our official channels. Don't be responsible for redirecting our efforts away from where they need to be.... we should all unite to #FindMaddox.'

FBI Charlotte on Twitter

BBM

 

[HayLouise]

World News Tonight‏Verified account @ABCWorldNews

'DESPERATE SEARCH: The FBI has joined the search for 6-year-old Maddox Ritch, a little boy with autism missing in North Carolina, last seen with his father at a state park. @EvaPilgrim reports. https://abcn.ws/2IaCjAG '

World News Tonight on Twitter

*Video at link

 

[HayLouise]

Christine Sperow WBTV‏Verified account @ChristineOnTV
Christine Sperow WBTV Retweeted FBI Charlotte

'FBI sending important message about search for 6 year old. As of this morning, Maddox Ritch is still missing. New update on @WBTV_News starting at 4:30am.'

Christine Sperow WBTV on Twitter

Important message:

FBI Charlotte‏Verified account @FBICharlotte
'Do not spread rumors on social media about the search for Maddox Ritch. Information is being released by our official channels. Don't be responsible for redirecting our efforts away from where they need to be.... we should all unite to #FindMaddox.'

FBI Charlotte on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

Caroline Hicks WBTV‏Verified account @CarolineHicksTV

'DAY 4 of desperate search for 6-yr-old Maddox Ritch continues in & around Rankin Lake Park in Gastonia. Coming up hear from a woman tells WBTV she saw the child running alone at the park on Saturday @WBTV_News #FindMaddox'



Caroline Hicks WBTV on Twitter

 

[Amonet]

Not one trace of this child yet. I have had to refrain from posting as to avoid violating terms. A lot of screenshots and comments on Facebook are revealing and as close to a statement from family that has been seen so far. I cant imagine how this childs mother is feeling. my 4 year old son woke up an hour ago crying because I had forgotten to plug back in his night light. Maddox, I hope you are out there waiting on them to find you although, without a doubt you are terrified.

WBTV News

I'm trying to work my way through this thread. My initial thought was a missing child in proximity of water...

But I have to agree with what yrmfp has posted, especially after a little browse on that link.

I don't suppose by the time I'm caught on up the thread I'll find that Maddox's dad has had any media interviews, but I would definitely like to see/hear something from him in case there is an abductor who took advantage of a wandering child who'd lost his daddy as opposed to the water outcome.

 

[HayLouise]

ABC13 Houston‏Verified account @abc13houston

'MISSING BOY: The search continues for a 6-year-old boy with autism in North Carolina. Authorities recorded messages from Maddox Ritch's parents and are playing those messages in the park, in hopes that their voices will persuade him to come out. https://abc13.co/2xDtfAq '

ABC13 Houston on Twitter

 

[altissima]

ABC13 Houston‏Verified account @abc13houston

'MISSING BOY: The search continues for a 6-year-old boy with autism in North Carolina. Authorities recorded messages from Maddox Ritch's parents and are playing those messages in the park, in hopes that their voices will persuade him to come out. https://abc13.co/2xDtfAq '

ABC13 Houston on Twitter

Ugh, this makes my heart hurt extra-much.
Where are you, adorable little guy?

 

[HayLouise]

Lauren Dugan‏ @DuganFOX46

'TODAY starts day 4 in the search for the missing autistic 6 year old boy. Maddox Ritch was last seen Saturday afternoon at Rankin Lake Park in Gastonia. Coming up: leads investigators are following + how they are stepping up the search @FOX46News'

Lauren Dugan on Twitter

 

[osu]

I Googled Rankin Lake Park and was able to see many photos. It's a pretty park and most of it is open area. I don't know what the back of the lake area where Maddox ran off looks like though. Maybe denser foliage?

I also read a couple review sites and one person commented that it's a nice place to stroll, not a lot of noise but on the weekends there are too many people out to take a leisurely walk. So hopefully by now LE has found people who saw Maddox that day.

Also, Saturday was Community Day for Pokemon Go players. What that means is starting at 2 pm ET there were probably a ton of players at the park. Usually people show up early so there should have been players in the vicinity around the time Maddox ran off.

I'm not joking - I was in San Diego's Balboa Park for it and nearly everyone holding a phone was playing. And not just kids. Parks are desirable places for these events.

I've been checking the Gastonia PD FB but no updates.

Maybe Maddox’ father was there to play Pokémon Go and he was busy looking at his phone to notice that Maddox had wandered off? JMO

 

[HayLouise]

Mark Barber‏Verified account @MBarberWSOC9

'This 6-year-old boy who has autism has now been missing for more than 60 hours. As the desperate search for Maddox Ritch enters its fourth day, the FBI is warning people not to post rumors on social media so search crews don’t get distracted by false alarms. @wsoctv'

Mark Barber on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

Lauren Dugan‏ @DuganFOX46

'#FindMaddox investigators have expanded their search space by an additional 2 square miles. They have also brought down water levels in Rankin Lake. This AM the park is still closed as dozens of agencies search for Maddox Ritch @FOX46News'



Lauren Dugan on Twitter

bbm

 

[HayLouise]

Lauren Tostenson‏ @LaurenTost

'Good morning, it’s day 4 of the Maddox Ritch search. This is the updated flyer released by the FBI, that includes the shirt/shoes Maddox was wearing. We’ll be back out at the scene today, and bring you any and all updates from authorities on @WBTV_News'



Lauren Tostenson on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

Lauren Dugan‏ @DuganFOX46

'#FindMaddox Maddox Ritch was last seen Saturday afternoon by his father and another adult at Rankin Lake Park. Since then, investigators say they are following +80 LEADS from a special TIP LINE for this case: 704-869-1075 @FOX46News'

Lauren Dugan on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

Lauren Dugan‏ @DuganFOX46

'Teams have search on the ground with K9s, in the air with drones, and on the water...even draining water levels in Rankin Lake. SWAT teams shifted through dumpsters by hand looking for missing Maddox Ritch @FOX46News #FindMaddox'



Lauren Dugan on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

Mark Barber‏Verified account @MBarberWSOC9

'Tactics and tools crews are using to search for Maddox: -They’re playing a voice recording from his parents to try to draw him out -Teams are equipped with sonar and infrared tech -Crews are capturing surveillance video and car tags -Dumpsters are being searched by hand @wsoctv'



Mark Barber on Twitter

Mark Barber‏Verified account @MBarberWSOC9

'The community is banding together as the search for Maddox Ritch drags on. Some neighbors have brought food for search crews. The Greater Gaston Baptist Association is asking the 115 churches in its association to pray Maddox will be found safe. @wsoctv'




Mark Barber on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

FOX 46 Charlotte‏Verified account @FOX46News

'KEEP HIS FACE OUT THERE: The search for 6-year-old #MaddoxRitch now enters day four. "I prayed that I would find him," Krystal Peninger said, whose company backs up to Rankin Lake Park in #Gastonia. @DuganFOX46 reports. Let's help #FindMaddox http://bit.ly/2OR8HuG '




FOX 46 Charlotte on Twitter

 

[Sconnie]

Maybe Maddox’ father was there to play Pokémon Go and he was busy looking at his phone to notice that Maddox had wandered off? JMO

Along those lines, is it possible that Maddox himself was playing Pokemon Go and wandered off the path searching for Pokemon? I suppose they would have tracked the device he was using if that was the case, though...

 

[msmamanana]

I fear that the adults present went to a secluded place, then stepped away from Maddox to engage in their own interests, and when their attention turned back to him he had been gone for more than a few minutes. That might be why the woman saw him alone. My knowledge of children won't let me accept that he ran ahead and they couldn't catch him.