WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Some Wichita citizens are joining in the search for a missing 5-year-old boy.
Citizens groups were out Monday at two Wichita parks where law enforcement officers have already searched for Lucas Hernandez. The boy has been missing since Feb. 17.
Hernandez’s stepmother, Emily Glass, was jailed last week on two counts of endangering a child involving Lucas and another child. She has not been formally charged.
One group is searching Chisholm Creek Park, while another is looking around Cessna West Park.
KAKE-TV reports Sheila Medlam, whose 5-year-old son, Mason, wandered away from their Colwich home in July 2010 and drowned in a nearby pool, is participating.
She says the groups have contacted Wichita police and will not disturb anything found in the park that might be connected to Lucas.
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SEDGWICK COUNTY — Police continue looking for a 5-year-old Kansas boy who has been missing for more than a week.
On Sunday, Police continued to ask the public to submit any tips about Lucas Hernandez’ whereabouts. He was reported missing on Feb. 17.
No arrests have been made in connection with the Wichita boy’s disappearance, but police have said Lucas’s father and stepmother had a volatile relationship in the past.
Police reports show that officers have been called to the family’s home in the past when the boy’s father and stepmother fought. In one incident in April 2016, police found both the father and stepmother with injuries.
Officer Paul Cruz confirmed Sunday there wasn’t any new information on the search.
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SEDGWICK COUNTY — After seven days, law enforcement authorities continue to investigating the circumstances surrounding a missing 5-year-old Kansas boy.
On Friday, search teams walked Chisholm Creek Park in Wichita in an effort to find Lucas Hernandez or clues to his disappearance, according to officer Paul Cruz.
On Wednesday, police reported the missing child case was now a criminal investigation, according to Cruz.
Investigators arrested 26-year-old Emily Glass, according to the Sedgwick County Booking report. She is the boy’s step-mother.
Glass is being held on two counts of endangerment to a child. The charges are related to information revealed during the investigation of Lucas’ disappearance.
Officers and investigators have been working on this case nonstop for a week. Investigators continue to conduct interviews, follow-up on leads, and examine evidence. The department cannot go into further details at this time, because the case is an active criminal investigation.
Lucas was reported missing at approximately 6:15 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17. Officers were dispatched to a lost juvenile call at a residence in the 600 block of South Edgemoor. Upon arrival, officers made contact with the boy’s 26-year-old stepmother. She reported she last saw Lucas in his bedroom at approximately 3 p.m. prior to her showering and falling asleep.
Anyone with information on the boy is asked to call Wichita Police.
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