Maddox Ritch, a six-year-old child from North Carolina, is dead.
The little boy, who had autism and was nonverbal, was found in a creek near Rankin Lake Park.
According to Maddox’s father, Ian Ritch, he went missing on Saturday while taking a stroll in the park.
Like many autistic children, Maddox was a runner, and according to Ian, he fled in the woods and was not able to catch him.
The father told the police that he last saw his son walking around a lake.
The parents of the little boy — Ian and Carrie — both spoke to the media hoping that he would be found safe and sound.
During the press conference, Ian explained: “I want my little boy back. It’s been real torture. I’m not eating, not sleeping. I’m just so worried about getting my little boy back.”
The mother, Carrie, also made an emotional plea for help.
The woman had this to say: “I would appreciate it, if you were at the park Saturday and saw Maddox, to please, urgently, please, call this tip line, please to help.”
Many say there are holes in Ian’s story, amongst them is Rick Foxx, who works at Rankin Lake Park.
Foxx, who made the 911 call, said he does not recall ever seeing Maddox in the park.
He told reporters: “It didn’t look as though, they were that concerned. I’ve worked there for almost three years, and we see everybody come in and out of that park pretty much. I didn’t see that kid one time.”
Members of the Gastonia Police Department say they are still searching for witnesses and are investigating the matter because they have many unanswered questions.
Ian took to Facebook to defend himself and say he will forever regret not being able to save his son.
It read: “I wanted to be his hero. I wanted him to say I was more than Superman or Batman to him. And I wanted people to ask him who his hero is and he would my daddy. Now I’m no hero I couldn’t save him or protect him at all. I would give anything to go back and save him. While a lot of people don’t believe anything I have said in the past believes this. From this moment on for the rest of my life, I will live with the guilt of not being there to save my son.”
Ian claims that he has taken two polygraph tests to prove his innocence.
