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Carrie Ritch cries Tuesday at a press conference as she talks about her son, Maddox Ritch, 6, who has disappeared from Rankin Lake Park in Gastonia, North Carolina. (John Clark / Gaston Gazette / AP)
Lindsey Bever
Generalist journalist responsible for national news and latest news
A few days after the disappearance of Maddox Ritch, age 6, during a family walk in a 200-acre park in North Carolina, her mother made a plea for her safe return.
Maddox, who is autistic and non-verbal, was seen last Saturday at Rankin Lake Park in Gastonia, North Carolina, near Charlotte, where he apparently fled and disappeared.
"Maddox is my whole world and my reason for living. He's mom, boy, "said his mother, Carrie Ritch, in tears at a press conference Tuesday, according to the CBS affiliate. She then urged anyone who could have seen her to contact the authorities. "Maddox loves the park, he loves inflatable balloons and he loves his teddy bear. Her smile is so contagious and her smile is so precious. If you think you have seen Maddox, please contact the police.
"I just want to say, I want my baby in my arms," said Ritch about his young son, crying.
The authorities said that Maddox's father, Ian Ritch, was not at the press conference because he was in the park, retracing their steps to help the police in the investigation.
[A 6-year-old with autism vanished during a family walk. The FBI is searching for him.]
Gastonia Police Chief Robert Helton told the press conference that there was "75 hours of distressing work" since Maddox disappeared, noting that more than 260 law enforcement personnel. Helton said that every day, separate search and rescue teams traveled the ground on ATVs and searched the water by boat to locate the child.
The FBI offered a $ 10,000 reward for information that helps the authorities direct Maddox.
"We do not want an hour to go before we find him and bring him home," Helton said.
Helton said the investigators are looking for witnesses who may be able to help in the case.
"In particular, some of the witnesses we spoke to saw a professional photographer there that day and we would like to speak with him," he said. "He was described as a white man in his early thirties. He was taking pictures of three white children dressed in Dr. Seuss costumes, holding balloons. Both parents were also present. We would like to talk to all these people if they could call us and talk to us. There was also a nearby male jogger that we could not identify, and we would like to talk to him too.
"These people are valuable witnesses," said Helton. "Even if you think you can not help us, call us and let us decide if your information can help us. There were a lot of kids in the park on Saturday, including other little blond haired boys who wore orange shirts, but we need to know if you saw our blond boy with the orange shirt. The special advice line is 704-869-1075.
Maddox has blond hair, blue eyes and four feet, according to an FBI poster. The last time we saw him, he was wearing an orange T-shirt on which was written, "I am the man," said the poster.
A poster for a missing person for Maddox Ritch. (FBI)
Rachel Bagley, Gastonia spokesperson "Maddox's parents told the police that the boy's father and another adult were with him on Saturday when he started running, and that the adults" started running after him, no one saw him. since. . "The authorities did not identify the other adult but said that this person was working with the police.
Over the past few days, local, state and federal law enforcement agencies – with the help of community members – have searched hundreds of acres in and around the park, a place of worship. picnic, hiking and water sports. The FBI took part in the investigation, while search and rescue teams and K-9 units were scrambling the terrain, police helicopters were looking out of the sky and divers were looking into the lake, the police said. authorities.
The police chief said earlier this week that law enforcement had been searching for "non-stop" since the boy had been missing for the first time, "checking every zone, every path, every corner" .
Helton then pleaded with the public.
"If you were in Rankin Lake yesterday and you saw Maddox or took videos or pictures of your outing at Rankin Lake Park, we would ask you to call us," he said at a conference. Sunday. "We know a lot of people were in the park yesterday and we talked to a lot of these people, but we did not talk to everyone and we would like to do it. No information is too small. Something you might think is insignificant could be helpful to our case. "
Helton added, "If you live near the park, we ask you to search the areas around your houses for clues to find Maddox. If you have a shed, a barn, a wooded area, take a look and call us immediately if you find something extraordinary. "
FBI Special Agent Jason Kaplan said at the same press conference that "unfortunately, it is not uncommon for children with special needs, autistic boys or autistic girls to get lost. or disappear. unfortunately with a certain frequency ".
The park is closed until further notice, according to authorities.
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