AURORA, Colo. -- Divers are searching a pond and police are conducting car-to-car and door-to-door searches, looking for a missing 6-year-old boy in Aurora.
#APD pictured checking trunks. #FBI assisting. Be alert if you're traveling along S Laredo St. near Yale. #Denver7 #FindingDavid pic.twitter.com/fQBIjPGK0g
— Amanda del Castillo (@AmandaDTV) January 3, 2017
David Puckett disappeared around 5:30 p.m. Saturday in the 15700 block of East Amherst Place, near Olympic Park in Aurora. Police said he voluntarily left home and investigators don’t believe any foul play is involved.
Divers are searching a small pond at Olympic Park, near David's home. Officials said the search was just a "precaution." Officials said they may drain the pond.
Amid the search, police asked reporters to leave the area. Denver7 reporter Amanda del Castillo witnessed a crime lab truck brought to the scene as reporters were escorted away.
South Metro dive team searching first. Will then determine whether draining pond is necessary. #FindingDavid #Denver7 pic.twitter.com/kpbz5ZRm1j
— Amanda del Castillo (@AmandaDTV) January 3, 2017
The Arapahoe Rescue Patrol and officers have checked other bodies of water in the area.
Tuesday, the rescue patrol also conducted another search of the open space areas around Olympic Park.
An AMBER Alert was issued Monday night for Puckett because of the extended time he has been missing and because of the incoming cold weather, Aurora Police said.
The reward for information leading to finding David was increased to $10,000 on Monday night. Aurora Police have set up three tip lines for information in David's case -- 303-739-1865, 303-739-1868 and 303-739-1870.
Authorities asked the public to search their yards, including any cabinets, boats, vehicles, boxes and other items. Aurora Police spokeswoman Crystal McCoy said it is not enough to call David's name, investigators are asking the public to do a search. There's a concern that David might be hiding.
The FBI is assisting Aurora Police.
McCoy said the FBI has "resources they can offer us."
The search area started as a half mile, but has been expanded over time to a 2.5-mile radius, McCoy explained.
McCoy said sex offenders in the area have been contacted and police are going door-to-door talking to neighbors.
The public helped in the search Sunday and Monday, but the public volunteer search was called off Monday afternoon after blood hounds were brought in. Aurora Police announced through Twitter on Tuesday morning, they have no plans to use volunteers on Tuesday. Though, if the need changes, the department said it will notify volunteers through Twitter.
David's mother, Stephanie Puckett, asked the community for help finding her son, “Please bring my baby home. Please help me find him." Aurora Police said they didn't have information on David's dad.
David was reported missing about an hour after he disappeared, police said.
David may be wearing camouflage pants with black and orange boots, a black shirt and tan coat. He is about four feet tall, weighs 48 pounds and has light brown hair and hazel eyes. He has a minor learning disability.
David is a student at Dartmouth Elementary and may have possibly gone to a classmate’s home. Police said other parents might not be aware that David has been reported missing. David has gone missing once before. Police said he left school, but was found safe.
Grief counselors will be on hand for students and staff on Tuesday.
Many have questioned why an AMBER Alert was not immediately issued. Authorities said Colorado has four requirements to issue anAMBER Alert:
- The child has to be under 18
- Be in immediate danger of serious harm or death
- Have enough descriptive information to believe a broadcast will assist or aid in the recovery
- The activation must be requested by a local law enforcement agency or AMBER Designee from another state.
AMBER Alerts were named for nine-year-old Amber Hagerman who was abducted in and killed in Texas in 1996. Her kidnapping and murder remain unsolved.
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