The tragic disappearance of 5-year-old Joshua James McCoy, reported missing in Oregon over the weekend, came to a heartbreaking end on Tuesday. The Coos County Sheriff’s Office announced that Joshua’s body was found less than two miles from his home in Hauser, a small unincorporated community along Route 101. The sheriff’s office has not released additional details regarding his death.
According to People, Joshua, who had autism and was affectionately called Josh or Joshie, was reported missing after sunset on Saturday. His mother told authorities that both she and Joshua had fallen asleep in the afternoon, but when she awoke around 5:30 p.m., he was nowhere to be found, according to information provided by the sheriff’s office.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reports that children on the autism spectrum are at a higher risk of wandering from safe locations, often being drawn to potentially dangerous areas such as bodies of water, construction sites, highways, and train tracks. The Sheriff’s Office shared this concern in their search efforts, as these behaviors may have played a role in Joshua’s disappearance.
In a statement Tuesday evening, Sgt. Christopher Gill from the sheriff’s office expressed deep sorrow over the outcome. “It is with immense sadness that we have to report that missing Joshua McCoy has been found deceased,” he stated.
As part of their exhaustive search, officials drained a pond on the family’s property but did not locate any clues in that area. Throughout the search, teams employed drones, and K-9 units, and sought additional support from state and federal agencies, as mentioned in a Monday evening update from the sheriff’s office on Facebook.
Authorities have not yet addressed whether charges might be filed in connection with Joshua’s death. The Coos County Sheriff’s Office and local community continue to mourn the loss of young Joshua McCoy, whose tragic passing has left a deep impact on all involved in the search and investigation.