NYPD Believes Remains Found in Queens Could Belong to Avonte Oquendo

Oquendo's family has reportedly been contacted.

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Human remains were discovered near the East River last night, and authorities in Queens believe they might belong to Avonte Oquendo. The 14-year-old autistic boy has been missing since running out of his Long Island City school on Oct. 4.

According to ABC7, a 14-year-old girl spotted the skeletal remnants of a human arm and leg on a rock near the College Point Yacht Club at about 7 p.m. A source told the New York Post that the girl discussed her discovery on Twitter before telling her mother, who then called 911. 

"We found the arm and it’s been here a while because it’s skeletal," a police source told the Post. "But where there’s an arm, there’s a body." The Post adds that a pair of size-5 1/2 sneakers matching a description of the ones Oquendo was wearing when he went missing were found as well.

ABC7 said the remains were taken to the Queens County Morgue while divers and helicopters searched for additional remains. Police have reportedly contacted Oquendo's family. 

Oquendo was last seen on surveillance footage leaving Center Boulevard School around 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 4.  For months, authorities have searched the city for the teen, who is unable to communicate verbally. 

We will update with more information as it becomes available.

[via ABC7 and New York Post]

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