Search underway for missing autistic 12-year-old who is known to be drawn to water

MADISON COUNTY, Ind. - Police are asking for the public's help in locating a missing 12-year-old autistic boy.




Gavin Purkey went missing on Thursday morning. He is described as being 5'5" tall and weighs 180 pounds. He has blue eyes and light brown hair that is shaved. Purkey was last seen wearing a gray shirt and black shorts.




Police warned that Purkey is autistic and will not respond to his name and will not walk towards anyone calling for him.




He may be in extreme danger due to having a tendency to wander toward water.

The Madison County Sheriff's Department gave two different locations for where Purkey was last seen. In a poster, authorities said Purkey was last seen east of Alexandria at 900 North and 500 East.




In a Facebook post, however, the sheriff's department said Purkey was last seen on a trail cam in the 4700 block east of 1000 N. This is a few miles west of the previous location and closer to Alexandria.




Anyone with information about Purkey is asked to contact police. If you spot the child, police say do not take your eyes off him and call 911.





via: https://fox59.com/indiana-news/search-underway-for-missing-autistic-12-year-old-who-is-known-to-be-drawn-to-water/