Deputies said Liam A. King left the area on foot. He is nonverbal and may run if approached.
ASHEBORO, N.C. — The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a missing 7-year-old boy with autism last seen Sunday in the area of Forest Hills Drive in Asheboro. Deputies say Liam A. King left the area on foot. He is nonverbal and may run if approached.
Liam is described as about 3 feet, 5 inches tall and weighing 55 pounds, with shoulder-length brown and black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a light blue, black, and gray Nike sweatshirt, a gray Nike T-shirt, black sweatpants, blue Sonic socks, and tan tennis shoes.
Deputies said Liam is nonverbal and may run away from anyone trying to help him. They also clarified that he is not deaf.
According to Randolph County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Steven Nunn, the boy was outside with his family but was left unsupervised for a few minutes. When his family returned outside from being indoors, they discovered he was missing and called 911 shortly after 11 a.m.
Search efforts have focused on water areas, wooded sections, and open fields within a radius around the family home. A pond was drained on Monday for crews to search.
“We spoke to the mother, and she said he has hardly ever ventured away,” Seabolt said. “He is fascinated with water – it is a common trait in Autism. So that’s why the water is an important area right now to search, and hopefully, we will not find him in the water. Hopefully, we’ll find him near the water.”
The FBI and several state and county agencies are assisting in the search, including personnel from Chatham and Randolph counties.
Only law enforcement and search-and-rescue professionals are involved, Nunn said.
The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office provided a statement on the progress of their search Tuesday:
“Searching at night and in water presents significant challenges. Darkness and difficult terrain slow the process and make small details harder to detect, even with the use of lighting. Ponds create additional obstacles with mud, debris, and limited visibility that can conceal critical evidence. These conditions naturally extend the time required, but they are why specialized equipment and careful methods are being used.”
The search continues for its third day on Tuesday. Deputies said they are using every available resource to find Liam.
“Together, we remain hopeful,” wrote the sheriff’s office on social media.
The search has included canine units, highway patrol helicopters, teams on foot, ATVs, and utility vehicles. About 100 personnel have participated so far, according to Nunn.
Nunn said authorities are pursuing “all possible avenues” and will continue the search into the night if necessary. There is no indication of abduction or foul play, according to deputies.
“We’re not going to quit until we find him, period,” said Nunn.
At this time, deputies said there are no leads or indications of his location other than around the home.
Anyone who sees Liam or has information about his whereabouts is urged to call 911 immediately.
