Eyewitness News
LONG ISLAND CITY (WABC) —
With autistic teenager Avonte Oquendo now missing for two weeks, the NYPD has released a photo of Avonte in the gray and white striped shirt he was wearing the day he was last seen.
“Two weeks, too long, just hoping we can come to a good end here,” said Daniel Oquendo, Avonte’s father.
Daniel Oquendo is all too aware of the passage of time, spending each and every day waiting, as police try every way possible to find his 14-year-old son, Avonte.
CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS FROM THE SEARCH FOR AVONTE OQUENDO
Friday, they released a photo of the shirt Avonte was last seen wearing, hoping it’ll jog someone’s memory.
“If it gives us some leads, we’ll definitely take it. Go search wherever that area is, so that’s just another one of our angles we’re trying to approach,” Daniel Oquendo said.
The NYPD’s Marine Harbor Unit continues to search along the East River. They are searching from above, they are walking the rail yards in Sunnyside, and Auxiliary cops are walking the streets of Long Island City.
They are taking note of every single surveillance camera in the area because so far, the only surveillance video they have the video of Avonte, who is severely autistic, running from his school on the afternoon of his disappearance.
Friday, a well-known group from Texas arrived.
“We’ve done searches in 38 different states, eight different countries,” said Tim Miller, of Texas Equusearch.
They don’t know if they can help in this case, but for the group’s founder it is personal in the same way it is for Avonte’s family.
“My own daughter disappeared, so here we are,” Miller said.
NYPD officers also fanned out Thursday night across the subway platforms at 34th Street, armed with flyers as they search for the teen on the city’s vast subway system.
They’re hoping Avonte’s face strikes a chord with someone.
The ever widening search in part is there because in the past Eyewitness News has learned that Avonte has previously been found at various stations.
Most recently, in August after he wandered away from home, family members ran to the 67th Avenue Station in Forest Hills where they found Avonte.
Five years ago, he took the subway from Jamaica to Kew Gardens/Union Turnpike Station. Transit police found him that time.
Seven years ago, he was found at the Fresh Pond Road Station in Ridgewood after wandering from home.
Now, police have Avonte’s information in the NYPD’s “Operation Sentry Network”.
“Which consists of 140 law enforcement agencies in the northeast quadrant of the country,” Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said.
In the meantime, the family, through their attorney, is pressing for more information from police and school officials.
“He runs away. And that’s apparently what he did. Unfortunately, I can’t get all the information I’d like to get,” said David Perecman, the family attorney said.
Family attorney David Perecman says Avonte’s special education learning plan calls for quote: “constant supervision”.
He is clearly seen in school video with no supervision.
“They don’t know where their son is and that at the very least should know how he went missing, they are entitled to that,” Perecman said.
Police are also playing a recording of the 14-year-old’s mother out of emergency response vehicles hoping the boy will hear it.
The message says, “Hi Avonte, it’s mom. Come to the flashing lights Avonte.”
Avonte’s family, including his older brother Daniel, continue to closely follow the progress of the NYPD searches and those by volunteers.
Police officials offered little in the way of an update in their search for the Avonte, who walked away from the Center Boulevard School in Long Island City on October 4th. He is last seen on video cameras in the school and by a school safety agent on duty.
“We have spoken to the school safety agent, who was on duty at the front door. We have looked at the videotape. She directs the young man to go back upstairs. She is at the front door. He goes down the hallway, actually exits the building from the side door. We see nothing at this juncture that shows that the conduct of the schools safety agent was inappropriate or there was any misconduct involved,” he said.
His family has said they were not contacted for hours after he went missing.
“Even if she did say something to Avonte, you would probably have to do more than just say something. Should probably have contacted the parents and police immediately not later,” Daniel Oquendo said.
Hundreds of officers have been searching for the teen. His parents say he loves trains. Police have checked all 468 train stations, every tunnel, abandoned station and bathroom. Divers searched the East River near the school.
“We’ve devoted 50 uniformed officers and a task force of detectives in Queens detectives headquarters. We’ve enlisted the aid of volunteers, Guardian Angels and Shorium Society have come forward and we appreciate their help,” Kelly said. “I think no stone has been unturned, but we are certainly working with as many resources and as many agencies as we can to get word out. Obviously, we’re very concerned at his juncture.”
The reward is up to $70,000 for information leading to Avonte’s safe return.
Volunteers have come from near and far to help in the search. Rick Stripp drove his new RV from Stanhope, New Jersey to Long Island City Tuesday so Avonte’s family will no longer have to huddle outside in the cold as they effort their search for him.
Some family members are nervous someone has the teenager.
“If somebody does have him, release him, because he can’t even tell on you. Write a note, put it in his pocket, write a note on his forehead, send him off,” said Roc Conti, a cousin.
“Please bring him back, don’t keep him if you have him,” said grandmother Doris McCoy, who is convinced someone has her grandson and that he is still alive. “Be good to him. Don’t abuse him. Don’t hurt him.”
Avonte was last seen wearing a gray striped shirt, black jeans and black sneakers. Authorities say that if you do see him, call authorities first and then follow the boy, because he may run if you approach him too quickly.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS.
(Copyright ©2013 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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avonte oquendo, nyc news, new york city news, new york news, new york city, queens news, long island city, missing children, missing person, autism, new york news, stacey sager
