Missing Boy Found??? After two years

[chadtm80]

Boy Found in Illinois Could Be N. Carolina Boy Who Vanished in 2000

Tuesday, April 29, 2003

CHICAGO — Almost three months after a dirty, bedraggled boy showed up at a suburban hospital, authorities say he may be a child who disappeared in North Carolina more than two years ago.

Relatives of Tristen "Buddy" Myers (search) are optimistic that authorities have found the boy, who was 4 when they last saw him in October 2000.

"It sure looks like him," the boy's great-aunt, Donna Myers, said Tuesday. "The picture they sent up from Chicago matched up with Tristen's and everything looked alike."

It is expected to take four to six weeks for DNA tests (search) to confirm whether a boy who says his name is Eli Quick is actually Tristen, who would be 6 now.

"I think it's him," Tristen's mother, Raven Myers, told WTVD-TV in Durham, N.C. "Just looking at the facial features; they say he's got a lisp, I've got a lisp. It's just weird."

For Illinois authorities, the case began as one of a disappearing father, not a missing child.

A man who identified himself as Ricky Quick brought the boy into an Evanston hospital Feb. 3, saying he "wanted the boy evaluated for aggressive behavior," said Jill Manuel, spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

The hospital notified the child welfare agency because the boy was filthy and had not changed clothes in several days, Manuel said. Hospital officials called police when the man tried to leave with the boy, and the man was arrested on a warrant for a theft charge out of Chicago, said Evanston Police Cmdr. Michael Perry.

Chicago police spokesman Pat Camden said the man was taken into custody but later released -- which he said was not unusual because the charge was not particularly serious.

Ricky Quick never showed up to get the boy and never called about him, which left DCFS worker Sharon Moriarity with the job of tracking down the boy's family, Cook County Public Guardian Patrick Murphy said.

"He talked about his mommy was killed in a crash in Colorado," Murphy said.

Moriarity determined that the woman the boy said was his mother, Sharon Smith, was killed in May 2002, Murphy said, adding that Smith had been Ricky Quick's girlfriend or wife.

As information about Smith trickled in, Moriarity began to doubt she was the boy's mother. "The kid wasn't listed on public aid and the rest of her kids were," Murphy said. "And her sister didn't know she had a son."

Murphy said Moriarity contacted the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (search) and found that the boy "almost exactly" matched the center's age progression image of Tristen.

Tristen disappeared Oct. 5, 2000, when he walked out of Donna Myers' Roseboro, N.C., home to play with his two dogs.

Donna Myers was taking care of the boy at the time. She said Raven Myers was forced to give up custody of Tristen to her parents because she was only 15 when she had him, but that the boy's grandmother later became terminally ill and unable to care for him.

Donna Myers said the FBI and the Sampson County, N.C., sheriff's department investigated the case, but turned up no solid leads or suspects over the last two and a half years.

Authorities are comparing a DNA sample from the boy -- who is in foster care in Chicago -- with one from Raven Myers.

Donna Myers said she has wanted to fly to Chicago from the day she heard Tristen might be there, but has been dissuaded by law enforcement officials and the missing children center, who are wary of the possibility of another false lead.

"I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high," she said. "But it's hard."

[weatherlover427]

If true, this would be on the likes of the Elizabeth Smart case. :o

[Amanzi]

I do hope this is the missing boy, but it sounds like he has been through a really rough time. Poor kid. I just hope he can finally get into a good home with lots of love and attention.

[ColdFront77]

I have a very good long term memory, but don't remember this story to vividly. This child went missing in October 2000. I was living here in central Florida for four months.

[Miss Mary]

This was very good news to hear. At first. Then as articles delved into his past, it just became all the more sad. I know his Aunt, his last biological caregiver, feels awful for his disappearance, but I'm not so certain he should be returned to his bio family. He's had a very inconsistent upbringing, in his short life. And now he's with a foster home, which is far better of course than with his kidnapper. When Elizabeth Smart was found and returned to her family, you were so happy for her. I'm so relieved this young boy was found. But I would however hope and pray the authorities look into his bio family before returning him to them. Who takes a nap, while in the care of a 4 year old, as the Aunt did? Not to sound judgemental, but that in itself should be questioned. Just my 2 cents. Poor little guy. Your heart aches for what he's been thru. I'm done now.

[Rainband]

I hope it's him!!! That would be two miracles with missing children in one year!!!

[chadtm80]

Sure would rainband

[Lindaloo]

I hope it is him too. Poor little fella has been through enough already! I just saw on FoxNews where Bush is going to sign the Amber Alert into law today. All I can say to that is IT IS ABOUT TIME!!!

[mf_dolphin]

I have to agree on the "Amber Alert" Lindaloo. This is long overdue!

[JQ Public]

This is a great story. Hopefully it is the same kid. The story has been pretty big around central nc for a long time...its great to see a happy ending to stories like these for once. I dind't know it was such a big deal until i saw it on the CBS world news last night.

[chadtm80]

Well since its so close to you keep one ear on it, and let us know how it turns out jq

[JQ Public]

sure thing...here is a link to all the stories about him.

http://www.wral.com/news/2169232/detail.html

search his name in the search feature and you can find out more i believe.

[chadtm80]

Thanks