WA-3 boys missing after playing outside, Monroe 7/15/09 FOUND

[KaylynnCouture]

MONROE - This morning, police in Monroe are searching for three boys who have been missing for several hours.

The father of two of the boys, 8-year-old Ethan Gertschitz and 10-year-old Eli Gertschitz, called the police around 10:36 pm Wednesday night when the boys did not return home on time.

The Gertschitz boys and another boy, 11-year-old Dillon Lewis, were last seen in north Monroe around 18700 block of 137th Street SE near the Evergreen State Fairgrounds.

Dillon was supposed to spend the night with the Gertschitzs. All three were playing outside last night when Dillon's older sister saw them around 9:30 pm and told them to come in for the night.

The father of Ethan and Eli was outside with the boys but had to go inside for a minute. When he went back out, the boys were gone.

The Snohomish County Sheriff's Dept. Search and Rescue team is now involved, and dogs are searching the neighborhood and a wooded area near the homes in that neighborhood.

Some of the residents of the neighborhood are looking for the boys as well.

http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-071609-missingmonroeboys,0,5844338.story

[mysticrose]

Search under way for 3 missing boys

07:16 AM PDT on Thursday, July 16, 2009

MONROE, Wash. - Search teams are combing the area near the Evergreen Fairgrounds, looking for three boys missing since Wednesday night.

The boys, eight-year old Elijah Gertschitz, his 10-year-old brother Ethyan Gertschitz and their 11-year-old friend Dylan Lewis, were last seen outside playing in the 18000 block of 137th Street SE in Monroe.

The father of brothers thought he heard them at about 9:45 p.m. when he began calling them. He said he whistled and yelled for them but they did not respond. The parents called police about 45 minutes later.


http://www.nwcn.com/statenews/washington/stories/NW_071609WAB_search-missing-monroe-boys-JM.46e1b830.html

[mysticrose]

I pray that these boys are just lost in the woods and will be found quickly as it is light out now. If they are lost I hope they are staying put so the searchers can find them.

[SeriouslySearching]

:waitasec: The story isn't making a lot of sense to me. Sister tells them to come in at 9:30pm, but the father was outside with them and returns inside for only a minute? Does that sound right to anyone else?

I hope they wandered into the woods and will be found very soon.

Dillon was supposed to spend the night with the Gertschitzs. All three were playing outside last night when Dillon's older sister saw them around 9:30 pm and told them to come in for the night.

The father of Ethan and Eli was outside with the boys but had to go inside for a minute. When he went back out, the boys were gone.

http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-071609-missingmonroeboys,0,5844338.story

ETA: Fixed the broken link!

[bogeygal]

HLN is going to show the story after commercial break...

[Salem]

Monroe is about 2 hours west of McCleary: http://maps.google.com/maps?daddr=Monroe,+WA&geocode=CS12QFyGkFwAFeE_2gIdHpK6-A&dirflg=&saddr=McCleary+WA&f=d&sll=47.873986,-121.990471&sspn=0.106163,0.201187&ie=UTF8&ll=47.376035,-122.376709&spn=1.714817,3.218994&z=8

I agree with SS - something doesn't sound right. Again we have a story where the time of last seen and person to last see are confused. What is up with that. How hard is it to sit down and work through the details -which are CRITICAL in these cases?

Praying these boys are found and they have only wandered off a bit.

Salem

[STEADFAST]

:waitasec: The story isn't making a lot of sense to me. Sister tells them to come in at 9:30pm, but the father was outside with them and returns inside for only a minute? Does that sound right to anyone else?

I hope they wandered into the woods and will be found very soon.

Dillon was supposed to spend the night with the Gertschitzs. All three were playing outside last night when Dillon's older sister saw them around 9:30 pm and told them to come in for the night.

The father of Ethan and Eli was outside with the boys but had to go inside for a minute. When he went back out, the boys were gone.

http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-0716...,5844338.story

SS, this link isn't working for me. Is it just me?

[amandab]

SS, this link isn't working for me. Is it just me?

Not working for me, either.

[STEADFAST]

Very heavily wooded around the neighborhood.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=18000+137th+St.,+monroe,+WA&sll=47.864299,-121.968412&sspn=0.006852,0.01929&ie=UTF8&ll=47.87377,-121.867218&spn=0.006851,0.01929&t=h&z=16

Doesn't look that all-fired close to the fairgrounds, either. I had the idea from the articles that they lived adjacent to the fairgrounds. Their street is quite isolated.

[Salem]

Map of area boys were playing in: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=137th+St+SE,+Monroe,+Washington+98272&daddr=Monroe,+WA&hl=en&geocode=FRx-2gIdSm-8-Cn3lv_NXqSaVDEnE3-VKZO1pQ%3BFeE_2gIdHpK6-A&mra=pe&mrcr=0&sll=47.829752,-121.78894&sspn=0.850015,1.609497&ie=UTF8&ll=47.873234,-121.8685&spn=0.001659,0.003144&t=h&z=18

It appears to be pretty heavily wooded, unless there has been new development out that way since the google maps were taken. The 187000 block is about a mile from the downtown area.

Salem

ETA: The articles say they were seen by the Evergreen State Fairgrounds. According to google, that is 5.7 miles away: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=137th+St+SE,+Monroe,+Washington+98272&daddr=14405+179th+Ave,+Monroe,+WA+98272-1149+(Evergreen+State+Fairgrounds)&hl=en&geocode=FRx-2gIdSm-8-A%3BFcxh2gIdJpK6-CGwBPdp5ard6Q&mra=pe&mrcr=0&sll=47.927482,-122.037705&sspn=0.212106,0.402374&ie=UTF8&ll=47.864774,-121.929531&spn=0.053091,0.100594&t=h&z=13

[Salem]

Hey Steadfast - we are on the same wavelength here. It does not look close to the Fairgrounds at all, at least not for 3 boys too young to drive. So what is the connection? Is it just because the fairgrounds are well known in the State of WA, so they used them as a landmark?

Salem

[STEADFAST]

Hey Steadfast - we are on the same wavelength here. It does not look close to the Fairgrounds at all, at least not for 3 boys too young to drive. So what is the connection? Is it just because the fairgrounds are well known in the State of WA, so they used them as a landmark?

Salem

I think that must be it. If that's the place the yearly State Fair takes place, maybe the media figures that's the only way people are going to get an idea of where Monroe is. Doesn't look to me like the fairgrounds have anything to do with this disappearance.

[mysticrose]

Police searching for 3 boys missing overnight in Monroe
Police were searching today for three boys who disappeared in a neighborhood northeast of the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe late Wednesday

By Lewis Kamb

Seattle Times staff reporter

Police were searching today for three boys who disappeared in a neighborhood northeast of the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe late Wednesday.

Missing are Dylan Lewis, 11, and brothers Ethyan Gertschitz, 10, and Elijah "Eli" Gertschitz, 8.

The boys were last seen playing outside by an older sibling who believed they were on their way to the Gertschitz home in the 18700 block of 137th Street Southeast about 9:45 p.m., Monroe police said.

"Dad [Gertschitz] was out calling them in," Monroe police spokeswoman Debbie Willis said today. "He thought he heard their footsteps, but he could never locate them."

Police were called about 10:36 p.m., Willis said. Monroe police officers searched by ground, while the Snohomish County sheriff's department sent a helicopter to search by air, she said.

"There's a wooded area near there, so that's also a possibility (of where the boys might be)," Willis said.

The search continued through the night, Willis said. By daybreak, neighbors and other volunteers had joined the search, she said. Snohomish County search and rescue crews also are using a bloodhound to help in the search, she said.

"This morning, we're going house to house," Willis said.

"Now that it's daylight, we're going to be very systematic about it. We're asking all neighborhoods to check their homes, outhouses and outbuildings. We also have some abandoned houses in the area we'll be checking."

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009483031_webmissing16m.html

[SeriouslySearching]

SS, this link isn't working for me. Is it just me?I fixed it! I guess it didn't copy right from the other post. Sorry! :)

The father of two of the boys, 8-year-old Ethan Gertschitz and 10-year-old Eli Gertschitz, called the police around 10:36 pm Wednesday night when the boys did not return home on time.

The Gertschitz boys and another boy, 11-year-old Dillon Lewis, were last seen in north Monroe around 18700 block of 137th Street SE near the Evergreen State Fairgrounds.

http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-071609-missingmonroeboys,0,5844338.story
BBM

Looking on the map, I can find 136th Place SE which is the street north of the fairgrounds. 137th has to be right near there, but I am not seeing it. It would appear to me to be the culdesac which sits right next to the fairgrounds and the airport.

[mysticrose]

Do we have an address where the boys home is located ? The address I got puts the fairgrounds about 1.7 miles away 6 to 8 min drive away.

[STEADFAST]

"Hampering the effort is the fact the boys’ parents are unsure exactly where the boys went to play so searchers have been concentrating on woods near the boys’ home not far from the fairgrounds."
http://www.skyvalleychronicle.com/FEATURE-NEWS/POLICE-RELEASE-PHOTOS-OF-MISSING-MONROE-BOYS

I thought the father was out there with them and just went in for a moment. :waitasec:

[STEADFAST]

Do we have an address where the boys home is located ? The address I got puts the fairgrounds about 1.7 miles away 6 to 8 min drive away.

Boy's location: 18700 137th St., Monroe, WA
Fairground: 14212 179th Ave SE, Monroe, WA
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=14212+179th+Ave+SE,+Monroe,+WA&daddr=18700+137th+St.,+monroe,+WA&hl=en&geocode=&mra=ls&sll=47.867654,-121.990681&sspn=0.054815,0.154324&ie=UTF8&ll=47.869726,-121.929531&spn=0.054813,0.154324&z=13

Salem posted a map showing the distance. The fairgrounds are just north of town on the other side of Stevens Pass HWY.

[momtective]

huh? http://www.myspace.com/487996961

[mysticrose]

This was the address I pulled up for the brothers home, perhaps it is not right.

17260 Keri Pl SE

Monroe, WA 98272-1624

[Salem]

Look at the faces of the Gertschitz boys in the photos. They sure don't look happy. Taking their football pictures you would think they would be smiling.

My hinky meter tells me something is up here - maybe the boys ran away? Seems weird that they would run away when other family members are outside calling them....

Salem

[mysticrose]

Boy's location: 18700 137th St., Monroe, WA
Fairground: 14212 179th Ave SE, Monroe, WA

Salem posted a map showing the distance. The fairgrounds are just north of town on the other side of Stevens Pass HWY.

I think this might be where they were thought to be last seen ? I may be confused....would not be the first time..lol

[STEADFAST]

This was the address I pulled up for the brothers home, perhaps it is not right.

17260 Keri Pl SE

Monroe, WA 98272-1624

That's not the address the news is putting out.

[SeriouslySearching]

Looking on the map, I can find 136th Place SE which is the street north of the fairgrounds. It would appear to me to be the culdesac which sits right next to the fairgrounds and the airport. It is right off McCallister Road. (You have to find it manually because the map took me to some weird places since 137th is not listed there for some reason.)

[STEADFAST]

Look at the faces of the Gertschitz boys in the photos. They sure don't look happy. Taking their football pictures you would think they would be smiling.

My hinky meter tells me something is up here - maybe the boys ran away? Seems weird that they would run away when other family members are outside calling them....

Salem

Pretty often kids aren't supposed to be smiling in their football pics. They're supposed to look intimidating.

[STEADFAST]

Looking on the map, I can find 136th Place SE which is the street north of the fairgrounds. 137th has to be right near there, but I am not seeing it. It would appear to me to be the culdesac which sits right next to the fairgrounds and the airport.

There about four links to maps on this thread. 137th St. is isolated and isn't a through street.

[Salem]

Looking at the map of 137th Street - it appears there is only one way in/out on the Street. Not the kind of area someone in a car would be cruising for victims, I don't think (but I could be wrong there). The road just doesn't seem to go through at either the east or west ends.

How old are the google satellite maps?

Salem

[mysticrose]

The boys were last seen playing outside by an older sibling who believed they were on their way to the Gertschitz home in the 18700 block of 137th Street Southeast about 9:45 p.m., Monroe police said

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009483031_webmissing16m.html

BBM..I am under the impression this is the area last seen by the sibling ? Just slap me if you need to..:crazy:

[SeriouslySearching]

Looking at the map of 137th Street - it appears there is only one way in/out on the Street. Not the kind of area someone in a car would be cruising for victims, I don't think (but I could be wrong there). The road just doesn't seem to go through at either the east or west ends.

How old are the google satellite maps?

SalemIt varies. 2-4 years in most places.

[Salem]

huh? http://www.myspace.com/487996961

Hey momtective - I don't think this is him, unless he used an older brother's photo? Could happen.

Is there anything on Dylan? He's a little older. Maybe he has something online?

And thank you for going to myspace right away. I don't have an account and am not familiar with the whole myspace scene, but I sure do appreciate all the sleuthing you bring back from those sites!

Salem

[SeriouslySearching]

The boys were last seen playing outside by an older sibling who believed they were on their way to the Gertschitz home in the 18700 block of 137th Street Southeast about 9:45 p.m., Monroe police said

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009483031_webmissing16m.html

BBM..I am under the impression this is the area last seen by the sibling ? Just slap me if you need to..:crazy:Great! I can bring out the :trout: We never miss an opportunity to slap someone with the trout around here! LOL

You don't deserve it tho because you are right! It could be the way it is being reported, but one story says the father was out with them and went inside for a "minute"...and now the boys were last seen by the sister at 9:45pm. LE isn't called until 10:36pm. Stupid move on their part not to call LE immediately!

[mysticrose]

Here we go again..different info coming out.

Officers said the boys, age 8, 10 and 11 were last seen playing outside near the end of a driveway about 9:45 p.m., but never came back inside

http://www.katu.com/news/local/50942767.html

[TripleA]

Someone needs to contact a news source and ask them to clarify these locations and put up a map or something.

This is not making any sense because in one instance I think they are referring to Dillons father seeing them and in another instance they are referring to Ethan and Eli's father seeing them/calling them/hearing them...or whatever the story is. Whose sibling saw them and called them in at 9:30 and whose sibling saw them headed toward Ethan and Eli's house? Two different siblings too? Huh!?!

[Salem]

How about this myyearbook site for Dylan? http://www.myyearbook.com/?mysession=cmVnaXN0cmF0aW9uX3Byb2ZpbGUmdXNlcmlkPTQ 3NDcyODI=%0A

Says he is 18 and the picture looks older, but in the comments says he is starting wrestling and mixed martial arts at the Middle School. I'm not sure if that means he is starting a program or has enrolled in the classes/joined the team.

Salem

[gibby207]

Monroe is heavily wooded with a swift river nearby.

[STEADFAST]

Someone needs to contact a news source and ask them to clarify these locations and put up a map or something.

This is not making any sense because in one instance I think they are referring to Dillons father seeing them and in another instance they are referring to Ethan and Eli's father seeing them/calling them/hearing them...or whatever the story is. Whose sibling saw them and called them in at 9:30 and whose sibling saw them headed toward Ethan and Eli's house? Two different siblings too? Huh!?!

My impression is they live next to each other or at least on the same block.

[gibby207]

ALSO! A prison in Monroe that holds max., med., and min. offenders.

[mysticrose]

Comments found here says :

I live in the next neighborhood over (The Farm at Woods Creek),

Dont know if this will help in the area where the boys were.

http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/reader_feedback/public/display.php?thread=150779&offset=0#post_608957

[mysticrose]

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/50942767.html

Comment by MGF12 , about ten comments down describes area around where boys disappeared. I hope these boys are found soon.

[Salem]

I have to cut out for awhile, but I'm hoping and praying these boys are found by the time I get back this p.m.

If not, I'm going to start seriously looking for McCleary connections. Its a stretch - but the MO is similar. Kids missing just about time to go in, very near home......

Salem

[mistivon]

found:

Three Monroe boys missing overnight were found Thursday morning, KING/5 News reported (http://www.king5.com/topstories/stories/NW_071609WAB_search-missing-monroe-boys-JM.46e1b830.html) -- by a KING/5 reporter covering the story. The station's Jennifer Cabala found 8-year-old Ethyan Gertschitz, his 10-year-old brother Elijah Gertschitz and 11-year-old Dylan Lewis sitting on a sidewalk and called police.

[mysticrose]

Police confirm that 3 missing boys in Monroe have been found

Police in Monroe have confirmed that three missing boys were found in their own neighborhood on Thursday morning.

A friend of the family tells KIRO Radio that the boys were found about a block from their home.

The boys, ages 8, 10, and 11 were playing outside Wednesday in the 18000 block of 137th St. SE Monroe, but did not return home on Wednesday night.

Ethyan Gertschitz, 8, and Elijah Gertschitz, 10, are brothers. They, along with their friend Dylan Lewis, were reported missing about 10:30 p.m.

One of the boys' fathers reportedly went outside to request they finish playing and come inside around 9:45 p.m. He returned a while later and the boys were gone

http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=189536

[momtective]

Found em! last comment http://www.komonews.com/news/local/50942767.html#idc-ctools

[mistivon]

lol, we were all looking at the same time :)
Thanks guys

[momtective]

Man, I wish they could end so quickly and with a happy ending!

[bogeygal]

Found em! last comment http://www.komonews.com/news/local/50942767.html#idc-ctools

Thank God they have been found safe!

[gibby207]

Great news!!

[momtective]

lol, we were all looking at the same time :)
Thanks guys

Lol...but we were all over it weren't we...lol
Thank you too mistivon.

[STEADFAST]

How about this myyearbook site for Dylan? http://www.myyearbook.com/?mysession=cmVnaXN0cmF0aW9uX3Byb2ZpbGUmdXNlcmlkPTQ 3NDcyODI=%0A

Says he is 18 and the picture looks older, but in the comments says he is starting wrestling and mixed martial arts at the Middle School. I'm not sure if that means he is starting a program or has enrolled in the classes/joined the team.

Salem

How about this on the "personal" page?
"Dylan Lewis is thinking about his next move. 82 days ago http://assets.myyearbook.com/mood/mood_scared.gifscared" (http://www.myyearbook.com/?mysession=c2VhcmNoX25ld3NlYXJjaCZrZXk9MCZ2YWw9NjM 4MTcyOQ==)

Guess it doesn't really matter now that we know they're safe.

[SeriouslySearching]

found:

Three Monroe boys missing overnight were found Thursday morning, KING/5 News reported (http://www.king5.com/topstories/stories/NW_071609WAB_search-missing-monroe-boys-JM.46e1b830.html) -- by a KING/5 reporter covering the story. The station's Jennifer Cabala found 8-year-old Ethyan Gertschitz, his 10-year-old brother Elijah Gertschitz and 11-year-old Dylan Lewis sitting on a sidewalk and called police.Wow! She deserves a raise! Can you imagine being a reporter and spotting them just sitting there?! OMG!

I just love a happy ending! WOOHOO!!!

Now...WHERE WERE THEY ALL NIGHT?! YOU ARE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE, LITTLE MISTERS!! :mad:

[Cubby]

Wow! She deserves a raise! Can you imagine being a reporter and spotting them just sitting there?! OMG!

I just love a happy ending! WOOHOO!!!

Now...WHERE WERE THEY ALL NIGHT?! YOU ARE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE, LITTLE MISTERS!! :mad:

No kidding! I'm glad they are safe. I bet they decided they didn't want to come in, wanted to stay out and play and decided rather than get in trouble they were going to sleep outside. I can see 8-11,12 year old boys doing that - and sadly, I can see my "I want to try everything" 6.5 year old pulling something like that off in a few years. Glad they are safe. Bet they are grounded for a bit, and no sleep overs for a bit.

[mysticrose]

Now That's An Exclusive

Here's a story of a reporter getting a real scoop.


A TV reporter in Seattle found three young boys who had been reported missing overnight in Washington State in the town of Monroe.


While out doing a story on their disappearance this morning, KING TV's Jennifer Cabala noticed the three kids sitting on a sidewalk near the Evergreen State Fairgrounds. All three safe and sound.


How about that.


CLICK HERE to see her coverage of the story on KING TV in Seattle


I'm waiting for her to Tweet about it.


I would have loved to have been on the other end of the phone to hear the reaction from her newsroom when she called in to tell them she got her story, and more.


KING TV reports the boys told Cabala they saw a man hiding underneath the porch of a home and got scared so they ran into a park and stayed there. Shortly after the interview, the boys were reunited with their parents.


The 8-year-old, 10-year-old and 11- year-old boys were last seen playing outside around 9:45 Wednesday night. When they didn't return home, a parent called police, who began a search with a helicopter and tracking dog.


Instead, it was reporter Cabala's nose for news that found the trio

http://scottwykoff.wbal.com/2009/07/now-thats-exclusive.html

[jnTexas]

Now That's An Exclusive

Here's a story of a reporter getting a real scoop.


A TV reporter in Seattle found three young boys who had been reported missing overnight in Washington State in the town of Monroe.


While out doing a story on their disappearance this morning, KING TV's Jennifer Cabala noticed the three kids sitting on a sidewalk near the Evergreen State Fairgrounds. All three safe and sound.


How about that.


CLICK HERE to see her coverage of the story on KING TV in Seattle


I'm waiting for her to Tweet about it.


I would have loved to have been on the other end of the phone to hear the reaction from her newsroom when she called in to tell them she got her story, and more.


KING TV reports the boys told Cabala they saw a man hiding underneath the porch of a home and got scared so they ran into a park and stayed there. Shortly after the interview, the boys were reunited with their parents.


The 8-year-old, 10-year-old and 11- year-old boys were last seen playing outside around 9:45 Wednesday night. When they didn't return home, a parent called police, who began a search with a helicopter and tracking dog.


Instead, it was reporter Cabala's nose for news that found the trio

http://scottwykoff.wbal.com/2009/07/now-thats-exclusive.html

Poor little guys were probably scared when they seen that guy after the case in McCleary so close by...

[Idaho4Groenes]

I wonder if they really did see a man under a porch, or if they made it up to stay out of trouble. If they were remotely close to home, I'd think they'd try to make it to one of their homes instead of hiding outside in a park...especially once it started to get dark. HOWEVER, if they really did see someone...that could be very interesting for Lindsey Baum's case.

[SeriouslySearching]

Like I said on Lindsey's thread, I hope LE will take them to the house and investigate the story of the man under the porch. The homeowner should be alerted if it is true and LE should gather any evidence at the scene.

Then the boys should be taken to the police station and taught the correct thing to do when you see a stranger! (I bet they have Stranger Danger type tapes.) You don't hide. You run to the nearest house to find an adult to help you and have them call 911. They need some good old fashioned lectures (which probably will come in the next few days after the parents can get off their knees after saying thanks in so many ways to a certain fella upstairs for their safe return).

[Debbie Miller]

Glad they were found safe and most of all , alive.