FL-Aaron Campbell, 5, Autistic Boy Missing

[SewingDeb]

http://www.wftv.com/news/10028633/detail.html

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- Orange County Sheriff's deputies searched for a 5-year old autistic boy Sunday.

Aaron Campbell was reported missing from his home on Westhope Drive in the Isle of Wright subdivision in west Orange County at 9:30 Sunday morning.

He is a four foot tall black male, who weighs 45-pounds.

He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt and blue and white striped boxers.

Aaron cannot speak and doesn't respond to his name, but he can hear.

[HollywoodBound]

Here is a link with a picture of Aaron:
http://www.cfnews13.com/StoryHeadline.aspx?id=19200

[SadieMae]

I'm praying this child is found safe.

[SewingDeb]

Here is a link with a picture of Aaron:
http://www.cfnews13.com/StoryHeadline.aspx?id=19200

Thank you! It always makes me angry when they don't post a picture with an article about a missing child. That should be basic for reporters.

[mom3dd]

There are 2-3 areas of water on the map of this area I pray they have searched there first. This is the scaritst part of Florida (where I grew up)
Children are so attracted to water.

[HollywoodBound]

Apparently the link with the picture lasted less than a day. Here is where it moved to:
http://www.cfnews13.com/StoryHeadline.aspx?id=19211
The article isn't time stamped or dated so I'm not sure if he was found or not. I don't know why newspapers don't date their internet articles, news is time sensitive.

[SewingDeb]

I don't believe he has been found (agree with you on newspapers dating their articles).

Search For Missing Autistic Boy Focusing On Pond

http://www.wftv.com/news/10032462/detail.html
dated October 9th

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- An Orange County mother is afraid for her 5-year-old autistic son who is missing from Orange County. All bloodhounds were leading investigators to one place Monday.

Aaron Campbell has been missing since Sunday morning. Crews were searching for him near a pond in the Isles at South Chase subdivision Monday that backs up to the Turnpike.

The sheriff's office used the word "unfortunately" to describe the fact that several search dogs led deputies to a small lake near Campbell's home. A remote controlled submarine was searching the lake bottom Monday.

"If he was out last night, I know he's terrified, because he's afraid of the dark. He's terrified of the dark. I know he's got to be cold and hungry," said Juliette Steele, the boy's mother.

Steele said she's at a loss for what to do next. The little boy disappeared Sunday morning from the family's SUV following a shopping trip.

The focus has turned to a nearby retention pond after bloodhounds followed the boy's scent there.

"My fear is that, if he's splashing with his hands, he may accidentally fall in. That's my fear, not that he would deliberately go in the water," Steele said.

But while the lake was the primary focus, searchers were still asking for help from nearby residents, asking them to look inside their boats, sheds, trailers and landscaping, or anywhere else the little boy might be able to hide.


~more at link~

[ajc2804]

http://www.cfnews13.com/StoryHeadline.aspx?id=19211
The missing 5-year-old autistic boy, Aaron Campbell, has been found dead in a pond in south Orange County. For more information tune to News 13



His mother had locked him into her car while she dropped off an item at the home of the child's grandmother. Five minutes later, Aaron was gone.

[SewingDeb]

http://www.cfnews13.com/StoryHeadline.aspx?id=19211
The missing 5-year-old autistic boy, Aaron Campbell, has been found dead in a pond in south Orange County. For more information tune to News 13



His mother had locked him into her car while she dropped off an item at the home of the child's grandmother. Five minutes later, Aaron was gone.

This is so sad.

[SadieMae]

Oh, this has me crying! Poor baby! I was so hoping for a different ending for this story.

[Amraann]

Sadie my husband just said the same.


I am going to say that as th mother of an autistic child there is Absolutley NO REASON to lock him in the car for any reason.
I don't care if he was autisitc or not.
Why not just bring him in with you??
I am sorry for the mother but only because her neglect caused this.
IMO she should be charged with a crime.
It is illegal to leave a child alone in a car.

[PrayersForMaura]

I pray that this was truly an "accident".

Either way, it's terribly sad :(

[SewingDeb]

Sadie my husband just said the same.


I am going to say that as th mother of an autistic child there is Absolutley NO REASON to lock him in the car for any reason.
I don't care if he was autisitc or not.
Why not just bring him in with you??
I am sorry for the mother but only because her neglect caused this.
IMO she should be charged with a crime.
It is illegal to leave a child alone in a car.

I wish all parents would realize this.

[bakerprune64]

I wish all parents would realize this.
Me too! I hope they charge her with negligent homicide.

[Villette]

I am going to say that as th mother of an autistic child there is Absolutley NO REASON to lock him in the car for any reason.
I don't care if he was autisitc or not.
Why not just bring him in with you??
I am sorry for the mother but only because her neglect caused this.
IMO she should be charged with a crime.
It is illegal to leave a child alone in a car.
I just started to get to know my new neighbor who is a single mother with a 4-year-old autistic son.

I was surprised to learn that she locks him in the car a lot (like when she's bringing in packages or groceries from the car) or locks him in a room when she needs to mow the lawn or other outdoor related chores. Sometimes, her son manages to get out of rooms and locks her out of the house. I offered to watch him after the first time she got locked out, but she said it'd just take too long to get him over to my house and situated.

So, I guess her actions don't really shock me.

sigh ...

[Amraann]

I pray that this was truly an "accident".

Either way, it's terribly sad :(

Its no accident when a child dies because a parent does something neglectful and illegal.

IMO she locked him in the car because she was to damn lazy to take the 3 freakin seconds to get him and bring him with her.

[Amraann]

I just started to get to know my new neighbor who is a single mother with a 4-year-old autistic son.

I was surprised to learn that she locks him in the car a lot (like when she's bringing in packages or groceries from the car) or locks him in a room when she needs to mow the lawn or other outdoor related chores. Sometimes, her son manages to get out of rooms and locks her out of the house. I offered to watch him after the first time she got locked out, but she said it'd just take too long to get him over to my house and situated.

So, I guess her actions don't really shock me.

sigh ...
No they are not.. Would you sit in the car with him while she unloaded the groceries?
Or possibly the house?
There is nothing more valuable to a parent of a disabled child then help from friends and neighbors.
I know how she feels about it taking to long to situate him.
But there are other solutions ...Like respite care (20 hours a week someone comes to the house to help)
He is young and its probably very difficult for her right now.
But the more she attempts to show him new things .... like situating him at your house while she does chores ... The more adaptable he will become later.

Also she is probably worried that no one else can handle his little quirks.
The best thing she can do for him is to learn all about the things she can do to help him and do the best for him. There are several online forums of parents who have autistic children.
Also tell her to stay shy of the VOOVOO juice cures. Just a waste of time and energy that gets ones hope up for nothing.
At his age she can look forward to some big strides in the next 2-3 years.
The best she can do is know how to work with him to make the most of those strides.

Maybe you can assure her that you really are there to help and his little quirks won't bother you:)
I hope she has a very good helpful pediatrician.
Also she should contact your state Centers for Autism (every state has them)
If she isn't familair I can get you the link with the info.
They are a wealth of support and information:)

[SadieMae]

Its no accident when a child dies because a parent does something neglectful and illegal.

IMO she locked him in the car because she was to damn lazy to take the 3 freakin seconds to get him and bring him with her.I agree Amraam. My children are not autistic, but even when making a quick run to 7-11 I took them IN with me. Was living in Michigan then and had to carry one on my back through snow and the other in a car seat even though I was in the store less than 5 minutes, all bundled up in snowsuits. No way would I leave a child in a car unattended, just no way. The article said she was dropping something off, well I'd a honked the horn and had them come out to get it from my car.

[PrayersForMaura]

Its no accident when a child dies because a parent does something neglectful and illegal.

IMO she locked him in the car because she was to damn lazy to take the 3 freakin seconds to get him and bring him with her.
What I really meant was that I hope it happened the way she said it did and that she didn't drown the child because he was "hard to handle".

Either way, yes ... she is definitely in the wrong.

[mjak]

My heart breaks for this little boy. I am sorry for his mother but am also angry that she would leave a child unattended in a car. There is no excuse for such reckless behavior.


mjak