Body found in Gastonia park officially identified as 6-year-old Maddox Ritch

GASTONIA, N.C. (WTVD) -- Gastonia police received confirmation Monday from the medical examiner's office that the body found in a park last week is that of 6-year-old Maddox Ritch.

Maddox's body was found last Thursday partially submerged in Long Creek, a little more than one mile from where his father had last seen him.

Maddox's father, Ian Ritch, told police that the boy, who has autism and is nonverbal, disappeared after running off while they were at Rankin Lake Park.

Autopsy results are not yet complete, so a cause of death is unknown at this time.

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"We are deeply saddened to learn the body found by searchers last Thursday is confirmed to be Maddox Ritch," Gastonia Police Chief Robert Helton said Monday. "Hundreds of people searched tirelessly for this child and our work continues to answer every question we can about his tragic death."

Authorities are still looking for information regarding Maddox's disappearance, specifically from people who were at the park the day he went missing -- on Saturday, Sept. 22.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at (704) 869-1075.

Note: The video above is from a previous story