Body believed to be of missing autistic mute boy Maddox Ritch found submerged in creek
In a tragic turn of events in the case of a missing 6-year-old North Carolina boy named Maddox Ritch, officials found a child's body near a highway, which they believe to be of him.
On Thursday, Federal officials in Charlotte tweeted the upsetting news: "With heavy hearts, we announce a body believed to be 6-year-old Maddox Ritch was found at approximately 1 p.m. off of Marietta Street/Old Dallas Highway in Gastonia. Maddox’s parents have been notified of the discovery. The investigation is ongoing."
Maddox, who had autism and limited verbal skills, was last seen on Saturday at Gastonia’s Rankin Lake Park walking with his father and another adult. From there he took off running and since was reported missing. Several search parties took charge to search the lake, with many divers participating voluntarily, as per reports.