A woman says she saw Maddox Ritch in North Carolina Park on the day of her disappearance; authorities investigate death

A woman said she saw Maddox Ritch, age 6, at North Carolina Park on the day of her disappearance, which contradicts a park worker 's claim that he does not belong to the park. would never have seen the child before the father reported him to his disappearance.

Brooke Sheppard told WBTV that she was at Gastin's Rankin Lake Park with her mother on Sept. 22 and saw Maddox, a nonverbal autistic jumping and running.

"I remember her [my mother] looking around him and asking him "Hey buddy, are you tired?" because he had just jumped, jogged, be a kid, "Sheppard said, adding that she was at the park for a picnic at the church.

She told the news station that she had heard Maddox later. On Thursday, FBI agents said they found an alleged body of Maddox located near the park, about 20 miles west of Charlotte. The body was partially submerged in the creek.

"I immediately knew that it was him, because I remember seeing him, then he was in front of me. I can just remember it at a T, "Sheppard said.

BODY BELIEVED TO MISS A BOY OF NORTH CAROLINA WITH AUTISM, THE FBI SAID

Sheppard added that she had been interrogated several times by detectives and that she had returned to where he had seen the boy.

Sheppard's account differs from what Rick Foxx remembers. Foxx, who called 911 to report Maddox's disappearance, told CBS News last week that he had not seen the child once on the day of his disappearance. Maddox was with his father, Ian Ritch, and his girlfriend.

"It did not seem like it worried them," Foxx told CBS News, referring to the couple. "I worked there almost three years ago and we see everyone coming in and out of this park pretty much, I did not see that child once."

POLICE RESEARCH OF A MYSTERIOUS MAN IN A WHITE TRUCK WHO MAY HAVE BEEN LAST TO SEE MOBILE BOY WITH AUTISM

The FBI and Gastonia police said they were investigating how the 6 year old boy was found in the creek and the cause of his death. The authorities did not indicate whether a criminal act was suspected.

"Where did he come in, how did he get there, what was the manner of death, what was the cause of death, was there a crime committed, or was it simply a crime? of an accident, "said FBI agent Kaplan on Friday. "These are very difficult questions to answer, but these are questions we will answer."

Maddox's father, Ian Ritch, also wrote an emotional message on Facebook when his son died. Ritch had previously stated that his son had run in front of him and had disappeared from his sight while they were in the park.

"First of all, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to all those who took part in the search for my boyfriend. I really appreciate everything that everyone has done to find it. And to all the members of the community who were hoping and praying and who just took a second of their time to think of Maddox, I thank you too. I loved this little boy, he was my best friend. Maddox was my only child and he will be the only one I'll ever have, "wrote Ritch.

A MISSING BOY WITH AUTISM HAS NOT BEEN SEEN AT PARK, A WORKER WHO CALLED 911 DIT

Ritch said that he "was not so worried" the day his son was missing because he was waiting to find him immediately. But over the days and hours, he worried more.

"Once Sunday morning has arrived it's when it starts [sic] me thinking that I had something to fear. Now, I discovered today [sic] not a father anymore. I had big plans with my son, "continued Ritch.

"I would give anything to go back and save it. Although many people do not believe everything I've said in the past, believe it. From that moment on and for the rest of my life, I will live with the guilt of not being there to save my son. The most important person of my life. So when everyone can return to normal life, remember that I will never be the same man again. I am going now and forever to be a broken man until I take my last breath, "he said.