Police Find Body of Missing 5-Year-Old Autistic Boy Who Disappeared While His Mom Was Napping

Coos County Sheriff's Office/Facebook

Three days after a 5-year-old boy disappeared from his Oregon home, investigators discovered his body. Angela German told police she laid down for a nap on the afternoon of November 9. When she awoke, she could not find her son, Joshua James McCoy. German contacted the Coos County Sheriff’s Office, which then launched an investigation.

Tragically, investigators found Joshua’s body less than 2 miles from his home on November 12. Now, police are trying to piece together exactly what happened to the young boy.

It’s unclear when Joshua left the home.

According to People, Joshua was autistic. His mother reportedly took a nap around 1 p.m. on Saturday. German told police she woke up around 5:30 p.m. and didn’t see Joshua. Police began searching for Joshua that evening and intensified the search the following day.

Investigators drained a pond and widened the search area.

Police used resources from neighboring counties in Oregon and northern California to help them. Crews continued their search but made little progress.

“Team assignments were given, and the area was canvased using real-time GPS for tracking. Some clues were found, but nothing definitive,” the sheriff’s office reported on November 11.

Investigators found Joshua’s body on November 12.

According to the sheriff’s office, investigators found his body around 12:30 p.m. on November 12. “Joshua was discovered deceased and found approximately 1.6 miles straight line distance North-West from the child’s residence, and almost 2 miles by road. The investigation is on-going and no additional information will be released at this time,” the statement reads.

The investigation continues, and anyone with information should contact the Coos County Sheriff’s Office.

Joshua’s grandmother shared a statement on Facebook.

Lois Munson wrote that she believed Joshua came to earth and collected his body to go to his heavenly home. The grandmother explained that she is not sure what happened to her grandson, but she does not have room in her heart “for hate.”

“I am a retired psychiatric nurse. Sometimes the human brain just gets sick to put it mildly. Bad things can happen. We all struggle from time to time. Some worse than others. Please hug your loved ones! Love them because you don’t know what tomorrow may bring. Our words are powerful and can hurt more than we know. I know with hindsight 20 20 vision I could have made choices that may have prevented this somehow,” Munson wrote.

The sheriff’s office reminded the public on Facebook they have not arrested anyone. “The Coos County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind the community that the Joshua McCoy investigation is still ongoing. No one is in custody. Cause of death remains unknown. Now is a time for healing and remembrance,” it noted.