Maddox Ritch: The body found in North Carolina would be a 6 year old autistic boy who disappeared last week

Research teams in North Carolina have found a body that would be one of 6 year old boy with autism who has disappearedAuthorities said Thursday. The boy's father said his son, Maddox Ritch, had disappeared Saturday while they were walking to Rankin Lake Park.

"We think we found Maddox, and I think it's reasonable to say that it's him," FBI Special Agent Jason Kaplan told reporters on Thursday. a press conference.

Police said earlier that the body was found around 1 pm and will be identified by the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner's Office.

The body was found in Long Creek in the city of Gastonia, authorities said. The area is about a mile from where Maddox has gone.

Kaplan said "it's absolutely unbelievable that it has been found". He said it was "extremely difficult" to see him even when the researchers stood next to him.

Kaplan said the questions still needing an answer include how and where he entered the creek, how he died and whether a crime was committed or not.

The FBI said that an investigation is underway.

With a heavy heart, we announce that Maddox Ritch, a 6 year old boy, was found around 13 hours. from Marietta Street / Old Dallas Highway to Gastonia. Maddox's parents were informed of the discovery. The investigation is underway

– FBI Charlotte (@FBICharlotte) September 27, 2018

"Our community is heartbroken," said Gastonia Police Chief Robert Helton. "This is not the end we had hoped for."

Ian Ritch said his son escaped from him in the park last Saturday in North Carolina and that he could not catch it.

On Wednesday, the police released the 911 call that was made almost an hour after Maddox disappeared.

Rick Foxx, who works in Rankin Lake Park, phoned. He said that he do not think Maddox has ever been there.

"It did not seem that they were concerned," said Foxx about the boy's father and his girlfriend, who was with him at the park. "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."

At a press conference Wednesday, Ian Ritch made a desperate call to anyone with information about his missing son.

"I just want my little boy back," Ritch said. "It was torture, I do not eat, I do not sleep, I'm just afraid of getting my baby back."

Ritch said the boy chased after a jogger and then disappeared.

"I could not catch him – I'm guilty of letting him take a step ahead of me before I run after him," Ritch said.

The FBI and more than 300 officers searched the park for more than 240 acres, including a lake. The FBI had already stated that he had evidence that Maddox was at the park on Saturday, but that he never explained what these proofs were.

Ritch told CBS News he took two polygraph tests, but the FBI would not comment on the results.

CBS affiliate, WBTV, reports that the case has hit hard the local community. People got involved in an effort to help, by watching press conferences and by checking Maddox in their homes and businesses.