Found Deceased NY - Avonte Oquendo, 14, Long Island City, 4 Oct 2013

[DPR4444]

Devastating news

 

[HereIsMeAgain]

Has anyone checked the hospitals or shelters?? I'm sure not all people working there would not know this young man is missing.

My heart jumped when I read he had been found, and then not found. How devastating to have that false hope

 

[Plumeria5]

New photo of Avonte smiling.

http://abclocal.go.com/images/wabc/cms_exf_2007/automation/images/100813_missingteen.jpg

Please find this little boy! lease:

 

[lucky181]

This is an article from yesterday. I didn't know that he'd run away before.

Police sources say Avonte has run away three other times and ended up at area train stations.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york...y-missing-autistic-boy-cops-article-1.1478829

 

[MrsG728]

I have been seeing it all over the news here and on FB.... poor mother. Praying he is ok and is found!

 

[lucky181]

His brother says they have a private investigator and a retired Federal agent now working to find Avonte.

I wonder if the school knew that he had run away before. Maybe the family never thought that would be a problem at school since someone was supposed to be with him at all times. Seeing the ease at which he ran out the door and across the street makes a little more sense knowing he had done it before. He didn't seem at all hesitant.

 

[readtoomanymysteries]

Knowing the area, it makes sense he hopped on a train. As a student, the city gives student metro cards so he did not necessarily need money.

Hunters Point is a seedy area at night.. A known place to pick up "women of the night". I hope he got on a train and is not roaming the neighborhood.

His face has been plastered all over local media, on local chat boards, and on social media. The family is doing a good job in regards to that, and people have been reposting everywhere.

As a side note, I would hesitate in rushing to judgement on the school/staff until all sides are told.

 

[Indy Anna]

His brother says they have a private investigator and a retired Federal agent now working to find Avonte.

I wonder if the school knew that he had run away before. Maybe the family never thought that would be a problem at school since someone was supposed to be with him at all times. Seeing the ease at which he ran out the door and across the street makes a little more sense knowing he had done it before. He didn't seem at all hesitant.

The school likely knew he was a bolter; that would be discussed in his IEP and explains why he was supposed to be 1-on-1. When I worked with MRDD populations, we called students/clients bolters when they had a habit of running. Someone who is mentally challenged but physically fit can be very quick. And it's not likely the school had enough staff for 1-on-1 supervision, but I'm sure they did their best with the staff available. They would need to turn their attention away for just one second, and a bolter could be long gone.

I hope LE has checked the train stations, including any open cars sitting in the rail yards, and also along the tracks. If he tried to get on a passenger train, I'm sure a RR employee would remember a young boy traveling alone. His behaviors and inability to talk would also make an impression on someone's memory.

Also, when his parents said he couldn't feed himself, I think they meant he couldn't purchase food and prepare it himself. It's possible he can't use utensils independently, either, but if he were hungry and there was food in front of him, I'm sure he would readily eat it with his hands.

I really hope Avonte has found shelter and that someone is looking out for him.

 

[DPR4444]

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/201...d-offered-for-return-of-missing-autistic-teen

$5,000 Reward Offered for Return of Missing Autistic Teen

"QUEENS — A New York law firm has offered a $5,000 reward Wednesday for the safe return of 14-year-old Avonte Oquendo, a teen with autism from Rego Park and has been missing since Friday afternoon.....


The award was offered by Mayerson and Associates, whose founder Gary Mayerson, is a member of the Autism Speaks board of directors, according to the company's website."

 

[PlainJaneDoe]

http://youtu.be/MRQvPQyy-2A Here is the vid of him.

I just want to grab onto his shirt and pull him back! :O

 

[PlainJaneDoe]

His brother says they have a private investigator and a retired Federal agent now working to find Avonte.

I wonder if the school knew that he had run away before. Maybe the family never thought that would be a problem at school since someone was supposed to be with him at all times. Seeing the ease at which he ran out the door and across the street makes a little more sense knowing he had done it before. He didn't seem at all hesitant.

No, so true! He almost looked like he was out for exercise...like he knew exactly where he was going and didn't seem to be looking around him or slowing down for anything!

 

[trigger]

raying: I hope he is found alive when I come back here in a few days.

 

[Snoods]

Hi everyone, as you all know I'm a terrible sleuther but I'm here to give moral support and do what I can! We need to find Avonte, poor baby. I need to catch up on the thread so give me a bit. Only a few guests here I see, wanna sign in and help? Everyone is super welcoming and there are a lot of wonderful people here! I lurked for a year myself!

 

[Snoods]

Oh he's such a doll! Five days? He's been missing for five days? His poor mother. He has to be somewhere! I actually have a good feeling about him. Okay, going back to read more.

 

[Snoods]

Handing out fliers directly to people like they have doing is wonderful. Putting the fliers in their faces and making them look at his picture. Those are busy New Yorkers!

I don't think he would head for water, just a hunch on my part.

So he is out there living as a street person I'm sure. Poor precious baby. I'm still catching up but it does seem as if they have a lot of volunteers? Are they still pounding the pavement? It also seems as if Avonte was booking out of there and he was intent on traveling. He may be just steadily walking walking walking. I hope they are looking not just in the immediate area.

ETA: Well shoot I stand corrected about the water thing. I'm learning about autism, be patient with me!

 

[Snoods]

I think I hear an echo in here...=) Anyone here?
He likes candy and video games. He has to be hungry. All of the convenience store employees should be alerted. He may run in, grab a bunch of candy and rush out the door. Employees, thinking he is stealing and not knowing the situation, may yell at him and scare him even more than he is already.
Does anyone have a map of where the school is? The brother says it is Riverside School but Center was posted on this thread. It might be helpful to map out all stores that have food and drinks along with video games to see if they have seen him.

Wonderful ideas! Is his brother coming on here?

 

[Snoods]

Here's what I have been able to put together...

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msi...&ll=40.713175,-73.859711&spn=0.172534,0.31414

Sorry don't mean to hijack the thread but nobody else is here.

Great job!

 

[Plumeria5]

Wonderful ideas! Is his brother coming on here?

Thanks, Snoods!
I doubt his brother knows anything about Websleuths. I just read his Tweets. It was so disappointing that the boy they found turned out not to be Avonte. You can read his tweets @KingDetrick. The brother has been so relentless and determined to find his little brother. It is so sad. Thanks for coming over to this thread.

If only I lived in New York I would be helping on the searches!

 

[Snoods]

Thanks, Snoods!
I doubt his brother knows anything about Websleuths. I just read his Tweets. It was so disappointing that the boy they found turned out not to be Avonte. You can read his tweets @KingDetrick. The brother has been so relentless and determined to find his little brother. It is so sad. Thanks for coming over to this thread.

If only I lived in New York I would be helping on the searches!

I just followed his brother on Twitter. I have an enormous (don't mean to brag) following of 23 people:giggle: so won't be much help there, but at least I can keep updated.

OMG that was such a rush when I saw that, I thought dang we're two for two! And then such a crushing blow for the family. I can't even imagine.
Avonte is very luck to have such a loving family, isn't he? I still have a good feeling he'll be found soon.

 

[Plumeria5]

I just followed his brother on Twitter. I have an enormous (don't mean to brag) following of 23 people:giggle: so won't be much help there, but at least I can keep updated.

OMG that was such a rush when I saw that, I thought dang we're two for two! And then such a crushing blow for the family. I can't even imagine.
Avonte is very luck to have such a loving family, isn't he? I still have a good feeling he'll be found soon.

Yes, he is. Have you seen the videos of his mother pleading for help? Even though he has the mentality of a 7-8 year old the family says he is very intelligent and seems to have an understanding of the trains. So I am hoping he is able to find enough food and water to survive on and eventually one of the searchers will find him on a train. Luckily the temperatures are staying pretty warm even at night.

And thanks for following him on Twitter!