The NYPD is investigating human remains that may be a link to 14-year-old missing autistic child Avonte Oquendo, who has been missing for more than three months.
The remains found along the rocks are said to be a human’s arms, torso and legs police officials say. Police also identified clothing and a dark-colored shoe that resembled the clothing Avonte was wearing when he disappeared after leaving school. The police were called to the College point area in response to a 911 call placed Thursday night, WABC reports.
Avonte has been missing since October 4 after he walked out of school, headed toward a park overlooking the East river. A search began asking for any details related to his whereabouts.
Pictures of Avonte have flooded social media and missing persons posters have been posted in New York city subways. The police have sorted through hundreds of tips, including a young man that resembled the teen, which the NYPD later confirmed was a false alarm. Since then leads have dwindled and the trail has grown cold until Thursday’s discovery of the remains 11 miles from where he was last seen.
The family’s lawyer David Perecman said he spoke to Avonte’s mother, Vanessa, and she is “considering the discovery to be another tip until she hears something more definitive.”
Perecman said the family will await DNA test results. ”This has taken a significant toll on her as a human being,” Perecman says referring to Vanessa.
Avonte’s family is considering taking legal action against the city. The family says that school officials allowed him to walk out of the school unattended and waited too long to inform the police he was missing.
A reward fund for information leading to Avonte’s safe return has been set up for $60,000, including $50,000 from advocacy group Autism Speaks.