Searchers scour area for missing boy with autism in Pearland
PEARLAND, TX (KTRK) -- The search continued Friday for a missing boy with autism in Pearland. Pearland police are also asking residents to check their home security cameras from Thanksgiving evening as the search for McGhee stretches past 24 hours.
Police say Marcus McGhee, who is from Connecticut, has been missing from a home in the 6700 block of Fite Road since Thanksgiving afternoon. A bloodhound track pointed to the area of FM 1128 and FM 518, Pearland police said on social media. McGhee is the relative of former NBA star Marcus Camby.
Marcus is autistic and non-verbal, adding challenges to the search. On Friday afternoon, hundreds of volunteers scoured a six-mile radius searching for him.
Houston Area Off-Road Recovery took out ATV's and played some of Marcus' favorite songs, like "The Wheels on the Bus, Go Round and Round," in hopes of getting his attention.
The Houston Police Department used their helicopter in the search and volunteers walked the area looking for Marcus.
Angie Cox was one of the volunteers. She has two autistic sons and wanted to help.
"My heart goes out to them. I have been praying. I could not sleep at all last night," Cox said.
Texas EquuSearch also scoured the area.
"We're doing our very best. We're not going to leave a stone unturned," said Jan Tipps of EquuSearch.
There are several challenges in the search. Marcus is non-verbal and may be scared by loud noises.
The dive team was out on the property at Fite Road searching a pond. They did not find anything.
By late Friday afternoon, the Pearland Police Department asked the public to discontinue their search for the time being. Pearland PD and Texas Search and Rescue will continue searching for the boy and evaluate how to address the search going forward.
A hotel clerk at the Hampton Inn on Broadway reported seeing the boy walk past the hotel yesterday evening.
"About thirty minutes later, a police officer comes in and says they're missing a little boy," she said. "I was like, 'oh my god.'"
Marcus was last seen wearing a black t-shirt with a green Nike swoosh and green and gray sweatpants.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Pearland Police Department at (281) 997-4100.
