The remains of an unidentified boy were found on a long stretch of a Galveston beach on Friday evening. There aren’t any missing child reports in Galveston or the surrounding areas that match the boy. No one has come forward to identify the child after a sketch was released.
KHOU reports the boy was found on the beach by a passerby around 5:30 p.m. local time in the surf. The Galveston Police are estimating the boy’s age between 3- and 5-years old.
Captain Joshua Schirard of the Galveston Police Department said the boy was found in a lesser populated area and explained it is “a very unusual case.”
The Galveston Police have checked with surrounding counties for a missing person’s report that might match the small boy, but nothing checked out. Police then decided to enlist the help of a highly skilled sketch artist and released the drawing to the media on Sunday. So far, no one has claimed or has any information on the boy.
Forensic artist Lois Gibson sketched the boy’s face who is being described as three feet tall and slender, as well as having black hair and brown eyes. The Galveston PD shared two Facebook posts with the sketch of the boy; one in Spanish, and one in English.
Galveston police release this drawing of the boy found dead on Steward beach Friday night. If you have info call: 409-765-3776 pic.twitter.com/mtOTp3idVL
— 12NewsNow (@12NewsNow) October 22, 2017
The U.S. Coast Guard had not been alerted of a missing child, and federal agencies have begun to search their databases as well. U.S. Customs and Border Protection are aiding the local police in their search. The Galveston PD even reached out to Child Protective Services, looking anywhere for a lead.
On Saturday, a small group of locals gathered on the beach where he was found and had a vigil for the boy. Participants said they felt bad this child had no one to step forward and claim him, and they were paying him the respect he deserved.
The Galveston PD are still waiting on the results of the autopsy and are currently treating his death as a homicide.
No ID yet of boy whose body was found on #Galveston beach. Cops say no missing person’s reports match, so checking with CPS & feds. #khou11 pic.twitter.com/kTjJUBSGMt
— Melissa Correa (@MelCorrea_HOU) October 21, 2017
Anyone who has any information on the boy is highly encouraged to contact the Galveston Police Department at 409-765-3702 or Galveston County Crime Stoppers at 409-763-8477.
[Featured Image by Galveston Police Department]
