Remains found in East River.. Are they Avonte's?

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 1/17/14 at 9:47am

Remains found early this morning. Severed limbs, and sneakers matching the description of Avonte Oquendo. If this is him, it is a heartbreaking end to a long, desperate search. And if these remains belong to him, it's sickening to know that someone could hurt this or any child in such a gruesome way...

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local/new_york&id=9396907

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 1/17/14 at 10:49am

On one hand, I pray that it isn't him, but on the other, finding him alive at this point is almost an impossibility. I am sure his family needs closure. It's absolutely sickening.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 1/17/14 at 11:00am

Who said he died of foul play? Could very well be he died of exposure.

[dreaming]

Posted: 1/17/14 at 11:08am

SNAFU-I was thinking that, too. He could have walked into the water and drowned as well. Or, given how cold it's been, he could have frozen or something. I'm not 100% convinced it was foul play.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 1/17/14 at 11:18am

As terribly sad as it is, if the remains are in fact his, at least the family will have some closure.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 1/17/14 at 11:56am

I had that same thought, SNAFU.

For me, the worse Hell would be never knowing.

Either way, my heart goes out to the family.
And to the victim, whoever it may turn out to be.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 1/17/14 at 11:57am

I guess calling them severed limbs led me to assume foul play. If they were severed by decomposition, nature or an animal, you wouldn't assume the limbs would be in the same place.

[dreaming]

Posted: 1/17/14 at 12:50pm

Well rivers move and I thought maybe natural decay occurred and scattered the remains.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 1/17/14 at 1:03pm

The first article I read sounded like the parts were discovered together, but now I have read an arm was found first, followed by both legs and a torso. I do think the original article was a bit misleading. They said the shoes were the size and brand he had been wearing and the jeans were the correct size. His mother is skeptical, of course. I hope that no foul play was involved. It's a tragic situation, regardless.

Updated On: 1/17/14 at 01:03 PM

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 1/17/14 at 2:14pm

You guys could be right, I hope. But the articles did leave me to think of dismembering... Horrifying.

It's a sad closure, but I hope it will help his mother begin to heal if it is indeed Avonte. I can't imagine what the next few days will bring for her and her family.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 1/17/14 at 2:52pm

No one has specified how they were separated, but all remains are in the vicinity of each other, so we dont know... As far as how it happened, I hope it is a natural part of decomposition, but the parts were found 11 miles from where he vanished, up stream - which means he would have had to travel even further than that, and ALL of the limbs and head and separated from the torso, so foul play is LIKELY. Let's just all hope for the best. Same shoes, pants, etc.. Poor child, his poor family, his poor mother...

[SNAFU]

Posted: 1/17/14 at 3:21pm

There is no "Up stream" to the East River, it is a tidal Strait and the water changes direction daily.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/21/14 at 2:17pm

Just saw on the news that DNA proves the remains do in fact belong to Avonte.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 1/21/14 at 2:19pm

I feared as much. Tragic. That poor kid.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 1/21/14 at 2:36pm

Tragic is right.

I hope, in some small way, this news helps the family move forward with their grief.

I can't imagine what they must be feeling, but I have to believe that knowing is better than never knowing what happened. I think it would be for me.

Bless that little boy.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 1/21/14 at 2:37pm

I am heartbroken...so tragic! The city held it's breath for this boy and his family.

It reminds me of Radio Days when everyone was riveted while they tried to free the little girl from the well...but this is so sinister as well. Sad and angry.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 1/21/14 at 2:39pm

doodle, I agree. I think we all feel a connection to this. A helpless boy being lost. Just heartbreaking.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 1/21/14 at 2:47pm

Damn, that boy couldn't even defend himself! He couldn't even cry out for help! I know everyone was hoping and praying he would be found alive. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones.

If you are a parent please hug, and kiss your child(ren) and tell them that you love them and they are the most important thing in your life. Let them know they are loved.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 1/21/14 at 2:52pm

Amen.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 1/21/14 at 2:52pm

Have they said it was foul play? I know so many non-verbal kids. My heart just breaks for this little boy and his family.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 1/21/14 at 2:57pm

At this point so far every report I have read has said that the police do not suspect foul play. I think the odds are good that the kid drowned the day he slipped the school and nature took her gruesome course. Very sad, but at least his fate is known.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 1/21/14 at 3:00pm

Family lawyer David Perecman, who filed lawsuit against the school and the city for losing track of the special needs student, said the large Fruit of the Loom underwear found on the victim could indicate that it took days for the boy to somehow end up in the water.
Source

[NYadgal]

Posted: 1/21/14 at 3:06pm

Oh, God.

I can't bear the thought that someone hurt him.
My nephew is non-verbal and this strikes cold fear in my heart.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 1/21/14 at 3:12pm

I don't know if it's the case, but it is POSSIBLE that he had an accident at school and they changed his underwear. If they are suing, no one would be in communication. A detail like that could have been forgotten by a teacher or aide.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 1/21/14 at 3:15pm

Hopefully that is the case. I can't bear to think that kid would suffer such a cruel fate at the hands of some deranged psycho.