13-year-old boy missing; Amber Alert issued
September 23, 2008 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
13-year-old Austin Large, who is autistic, is missing, according to the September 22nd New Durham Region. Austin and his father, Elias Large, were to return from a fishing trip on Monday. When they did not, Austin’s mother contacted police.
Police say they could be traveling in a white 1999 GMC Sierra extended truck with a large green tool box. The licence plate number is NE7 917.
Austin is described as white, 5′5″ tall, and weighing 160 pounds. He has a heavy build, brush cut, light brown hair and blue eyes.
The boy and his father were supposed to have spent the weekend fishing on Lake Nipissing but when they did not return home Monday as planned, Austin’s mother called police.
“They did not go to the lake,” said Hamilton Police Detective Sergeant Chris Kiriakopoulos.
“We are very concerned.”
According to Det. Sgt. Kiriakopoulos, Austin’s autism medication runs out tomorrow. He said that police are worried about the father’s mental state following the deterioration of his marriage to Austin’s mother.
Police have checked with the father’s family in Cambridge but have not found any leads as to the pair’s whereabouts.
An Amber Alert was issued and ended Monday night. Anyone who sees Austin or his father is asked to call 911.
It’s “Durham” region. Lake Nipissing is a fishing/vacation area where I spent a lot of my childhood. Durham region actually seems to have a police detachment that is fairly in tune with autistic families, from what I’ve heard- there are a couple of families there who have done a lot of work to try and educate the police department, so they will be all over this.
It’s always just a little bit scarier when things happen right in your backyard.
I saw the Amber alert last evening, there was no mention of Austin’s autism. Hamilton is just down the highway from us.
Thanks Kristina for posting this!!
Search continues for missing autistic boy
“The search continues for a missing autistic boy believed to have been taken by his father, even though an amber alert has ended…Police are now looking into a report suggesting the boy and his father were on a ferry to Manitoulin Island on Saturday…”
I am praying that that Austin is safe, and is soon found and returned home.
It’s a shame that they can issue an amber alert for a child missing because of a potential kidnapping, but they cannot issue one for an autistic child who is just ‘missing’…
I hope they make it home safely!
Well, they’ve lifted the Amber alert (I guess because they’ve determined that he’s most likely with his father), but no other news yet as far as I can see.
Austin’s been found safe in British Columbia (http://thespec.com/article/442021). His father was taken into custody, and then later released while they decide what he’s going to be charged with.
At least he’s home safe and sound- I hope that the long car ride to British Columbia wasn’t too hard on him!