The body of a young boy was found in a river in Nagoya on Tuesday afternoon. Japanese media reported that it is likely the body of a 4-year-old autistic boy who went missing on Sunday.
Ren Hioki was last seen by his mother playing in the garden behind their home in Nakagawa Ward at around 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Fuji TV reported.
Surveillance camera footage taken from a convenience store showed a boy resembling Ren walking by at around 7:45 p.m.
About 100 police, firefighters and volunteers searched for Ren on Tuesday. The body was found at around 3:30 p.m. near a bridge that crosses the Shinkawa River about 3.5 kilometers from Ren's home.
Police are yet to confirm that the body is that of the missing boy. After he went missing, his family released a statement saying he was autistic and that he may have difficulty speaking with anyone should they find him.
Last year in a similar incident, Ren went missing only to turn up the next morning on a roadside near his home.
© Japan Today
18 Comments
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Tessa
Oh dear.
SauloJpn
I hope he is found unharmed. Depending on his level of autism, it might make it really scary for him to be all alone.
nath
There are many kinds of jihesho. The boy may be much smarter than people assume.
Wasn't it pouring rain at 7:30 pm that day and dark?
sidesmile
He's done it before, overnight nonetheless, yet his parents/mother let him play out of sight and unsupervised, outside, at 7:30 in the evening? I just can imagine the "yeah, he wanders off from time to time but he always comes back" attitude. I hope he's found safe.
Monozuki
I guess his mother has great difficulty taking care of this 4-year-old autistic boy. (I have no idea if he has his father or not.)
I pray for boy's quick and safe return.
Sasoriza
So do I . As a mother of a child with DD (ADHD) I know how hard and demanding it is to care of such child. The truth is, people lack understanding and tolerance, yes, tolerance to such children. You can see them judging you. Discrimination is rampant. My daughter was refused admission in several kindergartens, until I started hiding her disorder. People avoid being around you and the child. Therefore basically a mother with a DD child gets no help really. Children with DD are unpredictable. They can get agitated over minor things. Their logic and reasoning is different than other kids. They are those we call thinkers out of the box, only in their case this comes naturally. A mother of such a child must be on alert constantly, 24/7, and some time ago I read an article where the author quoted a study, which estimated the level of stress a mother of a child with a DD is the same as that of an active duty soldier. I could write and explain more and more, but as you see, English is not my native language, and it's tiring to write that much. Just wanted to give you a food for thought, and to ask you before bashing and abusing mothers of kids with DD, to educate yourselves, and next time you see a DD kid, try to encouraging its mom instead. That will be really appreciated.
Yubaru
Sasoriza, not a native English speaker, but has better English skills than many natives.
This may sound harsh, but I do no apologize for the comment, what happens if your child injures or causes another child to be hurt because of her illness? Where do you draw the line on being responsible for her behavior?
If you hide her illness, then YOU are accountable for any problems that occur. Sorry but that is reality.
Monozuki
JT has now updated the article, and it seems that the boy has now failed to make it back alive. If that is really the case, it's a heart breaking disappointment!
misunderstood
RIP little guy its a mean world no one really understood what you were searching for but I am sure you have found the real fountain of youth and you can be happy there!
Rik314
Autistic kids have a fascination with water, often deadly. Poor little fella, but feel, too, for his Mum who loved and struggled with him in life and now must probably blame herself in his death.
nath
Rik. Never met any autistic kids having a facination with water. This boy did not know how to swim.
mr1234
http://nationalautismassociation.org/resources/autism-safety-facts/
Facts on drowning and autism
Speed
The posters condemning the mother for allowing Ren to play in the backyard at twilight, did you guys grow up never being allowed out in your yard?
You can't confine a kid or keep him/her next to you 24/7 and still call yourself humane.
Give this poor mom a break - I'm sure she tried her best and is going through hell.
nath
Drowning is among the leading causes of death of individuals with autism.
One sentence in that article, but no percentages of accidental deaths based on population studies and a controlled group.
Sentence is moot.
There are many ways and many types of autism and this article did not get into all of them, and actually most of you would not understand them anyway.
tmarie
Speed, when you have a four year old with autisim who went missing a year before and turned up a day later, you keep your eyes on the kid. I was not out at 7:30 at night alone when I was four. No child should be, more so one with Ren's history and issues.
Someone asked about the dad. Mom is 24, dad is in his 40s. Do the math and let your imagination run wild. This kid deserved better.
Tessa
You are right. Heck, at 7:30 at night I was usually in bed (at least until my early teens).
But what do the ages of his parents have to do with it?
tmarie
But what do the ages of his parents have to do with it?
I'm willing to bet this was not a planned child based on the ages. I am also willing to bet most women who give birth at 20 in Japan are not mature or responsible enough to look after a child who is autistic unless they have a great support network. Based on the fact that this child went missing a year before and mom didn'T learn her lesson... I think her age plays a factor in this. Sure, there are crappy older moms as well but I find the ones who are really in over their heads are the ones who got knocked up at an early age.