Police Search For Missing 9-Year Old Autistic Boy

PEARLAND, TX -- Police are searching for a 9-year old boy with autism who wandered away from a home n Thanksgiving Day.

Marcus McGhee, who was visiting with his family from out of town, was last seen around 4 p.m. in the 6700 block of Fite Road.

Relatives noticed the child was missing and searched for about 30 minutes before calling police.

Members of the Pasadena Police, and the Pearland Police have had the assistance of a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter searching a wide area from the air, and bloodhounds that have been unable to track the scent

With each passing hour, the search grew more complicated as Marcus could have walked further away, police said.

McGhee is non-verbal and is afraid of large animals and loud noises and cautioned that he may not answer when his name is called, and may even hide from potential rescuers, and as a result, police have asked for no horses or ATVs to be brought to search for McGhee.

"There are many challenges when you're searching for an autistic child. Autistic children, they tend to shy away from lights, loud noises, they also may be attracted to movement, things like moving cars. Water, surfaces of water that move," Lt. Onesimo Lopez told KPRC.

McGhee is from Connecticut, and is the nephew of retired basketball star Marcus Camby, who the family was reportedly visiting with for Thanksgiving.

He was last seen wearing a black T-shirt with a green Nike swoosh and gray and black sweat pants, and may also have his iPad and be wearing a pair of pink headphones.

Police believe he is on foot in the area and do not suspect foul play.

Police are asking that if anyone sees Marcus to not all out to him or approach him, but to call 911.

Anyone who has seen McGhee recently is asked to contact the Pearland Police Department at 281-997-4100.

Image: Pearland Police Department