The search for a missing 5-year-old Idaho boy, Matthew Glynn, who wandered off during his birthday party, has ended in tragedy. The Boise Police Department announced on Tuesday, August 6, that search crews believe they have found Matthew’s body in water approximately half a mile north of the street where his home was located.
“Sadly, this is not the outcome we were all hoping for. Our hearts go out to Matthew’s family, and we extend our deepest condolences during this incredibly difficult time,” said Boise Fire Chief Mark Niemeyer in a statement from the department.
Matthew was reported missing around 5:25 p.m. on August 5, after he walked away from his home near Alamosa and State Street, according to police. Authorities noted that he was last seen wearing gray Batman pajamas and that he was nonverbal, a detail that added urgency to the search. Matthew was celebrating his birthday at the time of his disappearance, as reported by Fox 13.
In response to the disappearance, a large-scale search effort was launched by Boise Police, Boise Fire, and Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue. The search utilized drones, K9 units, and UTVs, which played the song “Wheels on the Bus” in an effort to attract Matthew. Ron Christensen with Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue told ABC News that this strategy was based on understanding the preferences and behaviors of nonverbal autistic children.
“When you have an autistic subject that’s nonverbal, they tend to exhibit preferences and behaviors that are potentially a little bit more predictable,” Boise Police Chief Ron Winegar explained during a news conference, as reported by KTVB. “So, we employed some of those strategies that we had been given.”
The search efforts focused heavily on the nearby canals, rivers, and surrounding areas. The Ada County Child Abduction Response Team also conducted door-to-door searches in the neighborhood. Despite the extensive efforts, the outcome was heartbreaking.
“The water was initially our biggest concern and a large focus of our efforts,” Winegar said in a statement. “We are heartbroken over this development today.”
The Ada County Coroner’s Office is currently working to make an official identification of the body found, and the investigation remains ongoing. However, Chief Winegar indicated that there is no evidence of foul play, stating, “At this point, [we do] not have [any] indication of foul play [or] any indication there was anything other than a tragic accident.”
Matthew’s mother expressed her devastation at the news, telling KTVB that she is “heartbroken” and struggling to process the loss of her son.