A heartbreaking event occurred in Idaho when a five-year-old autistic boy was discovered dead in a canal, having wandered away from his own birthday party. The child, identified as Matthew Glynn, had just celebrated his fifth birthday at his Boise home before he was reported missing. His body was found around midday on Tuesday in the Farmer’s Union Canal, a waterway located roughly half a mile from his home.
Boise Fire Chief Mark Niemeyer expressed his profound sorrow over the incident, extending his deepest sympathies to Matthew’s family during this unimaginably difficult period. He stated, “Regrettably, this is not the outcome we were all praying for. Our hearts are with Matthew’s family at this time.”
The canal was a significant area of interest during the search and rescue operation due to Matthew’s known fascination with water. Matthew, who was nonverbal due to his autism, had a well-known affinity for water, which was a major concern for investigators during the search. The Ada County Coroner later confirmed that Matthew’s death was due to accidental drowning.
Matthew vanished around 6 p.m. on Monday during his birthday festivities, according to Boise Police Chief Ron Winegar. At the time of his disappearance, Matthew was dressed in his Batman pajamas and was not wearing any shoes.
In response to Matthew’s disappearance, a large-scale search operation was initiated involving the Boise Police, Boise Fire, and Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue. The search employed drones, K9 units, and UTVs. In a unique attempt to attract the lost boy, the song “Wheels on the Bus” was played over a loudspeaker.
Chief Winegar elaborated on the strategy, stating, “When dealing with a nonverbal autistic individual, they often exhibit preferences and behaviors that are potentially more predictable. Therefore, we utilized some of those strategies that we had been advised of.”