SAD UPDATE: Body Found Of NC 6-Year-Old Maddox Ritch Missing From Gastonia Park

GASTONIA, NC. (THECOUNT) — Members of the FBI dive team will begin their search of Rankin Lake in the park where 6-year-old Maddox Ritch went missing Saturday.

The specialized dive team will use “different equipment” than what was previously used during searches of the lake. A release from the Gastonia Police Department says the lake is still being drained which will make it impossible for large boats to be in the water. source

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is now offering a $10,000 reward for information that can help find a missing 6-year-old boy in Gastonia, local reports say.

Emergency responders say they’re currently conducting the second day of a massive search at a Gastonia park for missing 6-year-old Maddox Ritch, who is said to be a special needs child that may require regular meditation.

Local reports say, Ritch was last seen running away from his parents while visiting Rankin Lake Park at around 1:30 p.m. Search and rescue boats were sent to the lake area of the park.

Ritch was last seen wearing an orange shirt with “I’m the man” on the front of the T-shirt. He is 4 feet tall and weighs 45 pounds with blond hair and blue eyes.

“They were walking around the lake,” Gastonia spokeswoman Rachel Bagley said. “They got around to the backside of the lake. He started running, according to the parents, and when they started running after him, they lost sight of him, and no one has seen him ever since.” source

The ground search resumed at daylight Sunday. All activities at Rankin Lake Park have been canceled for Sunday and the park will be closed until further notice.

Anyone with any information on Ritch can call (704) 866-3300 or 911.

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