A very sad outcome.    

 

Just horrible, such a precious young man. 

Rest in peace, Avonte.   

I hope and pray you will have justice.

Rest In Peace Avonte

http://www.ageofautism.com/2014/01/rest-in-peace-avonte-oquendo.html
Rest In Peace Avonte Oquendo
January 22, 2014



Managing Editor's Note: Yesterday a news alert came in - the remains found in NY had been positively identified as Avonte Oquendo, missing 14 year old with autism who ran out of his school unsupervised (but not unseen) by staff.  We've been praying for his return since October 4, when he vanished into thin air - not an easy feat in congested Queens, NY.  Most of us whispered under our breath, "Water, go to the water, he went to the water."  Well, today we have his return - not what we wanted - but as a Mother, I think there must be some comfort in being able to bury your child and know you can still watch over him, even in death. To the Oquendo family, our heartfelt condolences. There but for the grace of God and a stroke of luck go most of us and our precious children.  RIP, Avonte.  Love, Kim  Send condolence cards to:

The Perecman Firm
Attn: The Oquendo Family
250 West 57th Street
4th Floor
New York, NY 10107

More...

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/final-rites-set-avonte-oquendo-article-1.1589662
Final rites set after four-month search for Avonte Oquendo ends in tragedy
A wake for the autistic 14-year-old will be held 9 a.m. Saturday at the Greenwich Village Funeral Home on Bleecker St. A funeral Mass for the boy, who went missing in October and whose remains were positively confirmed Tuesday, will take place 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Church on Sixth Ave.
January 23, 2014

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local/new_york&id=9406939
Funeral services Saturday for Avonte Oquendo
January 25, 2014

Video at Link

http://theforumnewsgroup.com/2014/01/31/after-avonte-oquendo-tragedy-feds-agree-to-fund-tracking-program-for-children-with-autism/
AFTER AVONTE OQUENDO TRAGEDY, FEDS AGREE TO FUND TRACKING PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM
January 31, 2014

The U.S. Department of Justice agreed Wednesday to fund voluntary tracking devices for children with autism who are prone to fleeing caregivers and schools, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) announced.

The new plan comes after Schumer pushed for it following the death of Avonte Oquendo, a 14-year-old teen with autism who disappeared from his Long Island City school in October and whose remains were discovered in College Point about two weeks ago.

“The sights and sounds of NYC and other busy places can be overstimulating and distracting for children and teens with autism, often leading to wandering as ways to escape,” said Schumer, who stressed that the program would be entirely voluntary for parents. “Voluntary tracking devices will help our teachers and parents in the event that the child runs away and, God forbid, goes missing. [The] DOJ already funds these devices for individuals with Alzheimer’s, and they have done the right thing in deciding to the do the same for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.”

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder made the commitment to the tracking program during a Congressional hearing this morning, following an announcement earlier this week that Schumer would introduce “Avonte’s Law” to create and fund an entirely new grant program with the DOJ that would provide this type of funding.
 
Autism Speaks President Liz Feld said that the “tragic fate of Avonte Oquendo hit home with parents in New York and across the country.

“The incidence of wandering has reached frightening levels and individuals with autism are especially vulnerable,” Feld continued. ‘We need to raise awareness and increase education so that tragedies like this never happen again.”
 
According to a study conducted by the Interactive Autism Network and AWAARE, 49 percent of children and teens with autism attempt to run or wander. Of those, 53 percent of the children were missing long enough to cause serious concern.

According to AWAARE and the National Autism Association, of the individuals who run, 74 percent run from their own home or someone else house, 40 percent wander from stores, and 29 percent from schools. Close calls with traffic injuries were reported for 65 percent of the missing children, and close calls with drowning were reported for 24 percent.

Tracking technology includes personal locating devices that can be worn as non-tampering wristwatches, anklets, or clipped onto belt loops or shoelaces. When users of the device are missing, the caregiver or school system can notify the device company and a trained emergency team responds to the area.

http://www.ny1.com/content/news/202925/avonte-oquendo-s-family-thanks-volunteers-for-support
Avonte Oquendo’s Family Thanks Volunteers for Support
February 2, 2014

With the Whitestone Bridge as a backdrop, they held hands in College Point Saturday to remember a life lost too soon. The pain was still visible on the faces of Avonte Oquendo's family.

Despite that, they wanted to personally thank everyone who prayed and searched for their 14-year-old boy.

"We just came out here to give thanks to everybody for the support and for the love,” said Daniel Oquendo, Avonte’s father.
 

Video at Link