Some very unfortunate news this afternoon. DNA has confirmed that the remains found in Queens, NY last week, is that of missing autistic teen Avonte Oqendo, 14.
The Examiner confirmed the news earlier today, alerting Avonte’s parents, Daniel and Vanessa Oquendo, of the findings.
The teen went missing from his Long Island City school on October 4th — initiating a city-wide search for the boy.
He was last scene on video surveillance leaving the school’s premises, undetected, earlier that afternoon.
The search went on for nearly three months until a College Point resident and photography student noticed remains floating in near by waters.
Although the victim’s clothing matched that of the missing teen upon the findings, officials were reluctant to confirm that the body had been Avonte’s until DNA confirmed it was.
At the time of Avonte’s disappearance, the Oquendo’s lawyer, David Perecman, revealed that during the initial investigation he received audiotapes indicating that a school safety agent had confronted Avonte and asked him what he was doing in the hallway. He was then told to go back to class.
The NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly, reiterated much of those statements adding that a safety agent did stop the boy at the school’s main door and told him to go back upstairs. However, upon further investigation, Avonte was seen running out of the school.
Perecman notes that the tapes show that Avonte was heading toward the East River.
Parts of the teen’s body are still being found as police continue to investigate what happened and why.
At this time its speculated that the boy fell in the water and drowned. The official cause of death is still pending.
Avonte’s parents are now planning to sue the school for their negligence.
2 Comments
Very sad story.
So sad!!