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

[SuzDuJour]

Remote area...so did they follow the creek from the lake, or possibly a tip?

 

[Steelslady]

Live feed. Reporter said about a mile and a half from the park.
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Ugh, how heartbreaking. I just hope that Maddox's last run was full of fun, exhilaration and joy- that he saw fun things and had one hell of a great adventure before passing away. Please, please let that be the case, for him, and his loved ones.

 

[Elgana]

The father, Ian Scott Ritch, has taken his Facebook page down. Or someone has anyway.

 

[Savmom]

Definitely not unthinkable that Maddox could walk that far at 6-years old. My nephew is on the spectrum and he could have walked that far without batting an eyelash at 6, probably at 4! He was full of energy and loved talking walks (and running away from whoever would give chase).

I am wondering thought, if Maddox actually walked to that location, why didn't they find him sooner if they utilized SAR dogs? Or did I misread that somewhere?

 

[MsMarple]

@BrigidaMack Heartbreaking news. How far away from the park was Maddox's body found? More than a mile?

Bob Grebe WHSV on Twitter

Reply:

About a mile. No more. When #Sky3 panned from the scene of where #MaddoxRitch was found -we could see Rankin Lake Park.


Our @WBTVSteveO said a witness told him there’s actually a path/trail from the park that runs under hwy 321 to the area where he was found. @WBTV_News

Brigida Mack WBTV on Twitter

Bbm

Are they talking about Long Creek? If so I think you can see the path, which runs alongside it on Google Maps. Unfortunately the resolution is awful but I think I can see where Maddox may have veered left instead of right towards the parking lot.
Google Maps

 

[SAMS]

I’m trying to catch up as fast as I can but y’all are fast. Here is the 911 call. Sorry if it is a duplicate.
'We’ve searched everywhere': 911 call released in search for missing NC boy

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Okay.My heart just cracked. Praying for you...And for Maddox to be in your arms SAFE soon.

 

[HayLouise]

BREAKING: FBI officials say they found a body believed to be 6 year old Maddox Ritch. The autistic boy has been missing since Saturday, when he ran off while at a park with his father.

SE-010TH

CNN Newsource on Twitter

*video at link

 

[wont_stop]

I was just about to post this when I saw the devastating news. Had to take a break.

Maddox Ritch: 911 caller says father was 'out of breath' after son went missing

I no longer really trust MSM. Always with a box of Salt. But I notice the guy says - “kids”

I took that to mean that kids were jogging around the track. Perhaps those are one of the joggers he was said to have ran after.

 

[Nah]

I expected that he fell in the lake. I did NOT expect for him to have been found near the road. This does not look good.

 

[SpyBot]

Such sad and heartbreaking news. Certainly not the ending we wanted to hear.
RIP Maddox
Sweet Little Angel

 

[Nah]

I read where the park employee accused the father and his friend of not seeming too upset that his son was missing. That was a little unfair to publish already....? Or are they going to investigate the possibility of criminal activity?

 

[Purplepixii]

So sorry Maddox, thoughts are with your family & friends during this horrific time.

WS parents - give your kids extra hugs tonight

 

[rosesfromangels]

Awaiting more details, and praying for those who love this little angel. So very sad.

 

[Savmom]

I expected that he fell in the lake. I did NOT expect for him to have been found near the road. This does not look good.

BBM

I think we may be thinking along the same lines. At least I am assuming we are

If he walked there surely they would have found his scent sooner?

 

[SouthernMom]

Re: Long creek...can any locals tell us about the water levels of this creek recently. We have had a lot of rain and some local tributaries are still at or above flood level.

 

[SassynOz]

Completely relate. We have a 15 year old with autism. She takes 10mg of melatonin every night and still does not sleep through the night. We now have an alarm on the house - every door and every window. We did not give her the code; so she can not disarm it.

Mine will be 15 in December wow 15 in my head she’s still a baby until I think about her age. Looks like we’ve both been on this journey together . Life IS easier now I’m not in the place of having to be “on 24/7” with her anymore. We gained a bonus child that just turned 3 though so he’s the one who keeps me on my toes. My girl is so much easier now I think back and wonder how we got through it. Puberty was a god send for us she really matured a lot and is just a different kid in many ways. She’s non verbal but she can let you know what she needs wants in many other ways.

 

[SouthernMom]

I hope we are all remembering to be sensitive to the friends & family who may be reading here. This is a tragedy.

 

[Tricia]

This thread will close shortly and a link to a new thread will be posted. Standby

 

[SAMS]

Okay.My heart just cracked. Praying for you...And for Maddox to be in your arms SAFE soon.

My God. Rip Maddox praying for the family.

 

[heartgoesout]

Is there a pic of where he was found? A women on Facebook circles an area of a creek from drone footage where she felt she saw orange which would be his shirt.