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NYPD likely to scale back search for missing autistic boy this week

Avonte Oquendo

Avonte Oquendo

Oct. 22, 2013 By Christian Murray

The NYPD is likely to scale back its search for 14-year-old Avonte Oquendo this week—if it continues to find no trace of the non-verbal autistic boy.

The police have devoted hundreds of officers to the search—sending out boat crews to scour the waters off Long Island City and helicopter teams to comb the area.

Avonte, who was last seen on surveillance video October 4th leaving his 51st Avenue school, has been missing for 18 days. There have been more than 200 tips and at least two possible sightings, but nothing has materialized.

However, in the process of looking for Avonte, the NYPD has found three other young people who had been reported missing.

“We are still devoting a lot of resources to the search,” Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said yesterday. However, “We will have to make some adjustments as for the deployment of the resources … this week if we are unsuccessful.”

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