Authorities in Nebraska have exhausted the search of a recreational area for signs of missing 11-year-old Ryan Larsen, and are now concentrating on surveillance footage from area residences and businesses.
La Vista Police initially indicated they believed Larsen was intentionally hiding, with one officer saying that the autistic boy was playing “the ultimate game of hide-and-seek” during a press conference last week. The boy’s family reportedly told police that he has a history of hiding and running away, and a computer search history found that Larsen had searched YouTube for the phrases “hiding from police” and “hiding underground.”
As the days passed without any sign of Larsen, the investigation took on a more serious tone, and police late last week said they had not ruled out any possibilities for the boy’s disappearance, including foul play. Investigators did a through search of the Walnut Creek Recreation Area, reportedly based on leads and the proximity of the area to Larsen’s home and school.