SOUTH BERWICK — His is the best-known face in New England, law enforcement authorities say, with his tousled blonde hair and blue eyes looking out from a computer-generated image released by Maine State Police.
But in the long hours since his body was found under a tree in the woods off Dennett Road Saturday, covered in a military-tone green blanket, no one has stepped forward to identify him. No one has stepped forward to claim him.
As of press time this morning, it has been about 66 hours since his remains were found by a passerby ”“ and still, no identification, although that could change at any time.
Maine Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland this morning said state police had received several dozen more calls from all over the country overnight in addition to the 100 received from when word first went out that a boy had been found.
“Many were from New England, some from outside,” he said, citing several calls from Florida.
As police follow up those leads, they know someone, somewhere, knows the boy’s identity.
“Someone has got to be missing this child,” said Lt. Brian McDonough, the commanding officer of the southern unit of the Maine State Police Criminal Investigation Division at a news conference Monday in South Berwick.
The boy’s image has gone out across the country and beyond, to Canada. It has been sent to superintendents of schools offices, doctors offices and daycare centers.
As of 3 p.m. Monday, more than 100 leads had come in, including some from Illinois and Michigan, but none had panned out.
The boy had short wavy blonde hair and blue eyes and still had his baby teeth. He is 3 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs 45 pounds.
The boy was between 4 and 6 years old, authorities estimate.
Police won’t reveal autopsy results but have said his death is considered “suspicious.”
McDonough said his instincts tell him there may be a local connection.
The area where the boy’s body was found was on the gravel portion of a lightly traveled rural road, more likely to be known by those in the surrounding area than by someone from away.
In addition to checking out tips, state police were reviewing surveillance video from businesses on both sides of the Maine-New Hampshire state line.
As well, police are looking for a blue Toyota Tacoma pickup that was spotted in the lightly-traveled area at about 7:30 a.m., several hours before the body was discovered. The truck has an extended cab, a cap and a white license plate.
McDonough said state police technicians were able to take impressions of the tire tracks and footprints at the scene.
Investigators believe the boy died a couple of hours before his body was placed along the road Saturday morning; he was discovered around 5 p.m., said McCausland.
McDonough on Monday said the police agency had consulted with the Center for Missing and Exploited Children and expects to consult with Team Adam, a team of made up of retired law enforcement officers that specializes in such cases.
The boy was found wearing a Faded Glory-brand gray camouflage hoodie, a blue T-shirt with the words “Aviator Series” on the front, tan pants and black sneakers adorned with the character Lightning McQueen from the Disney movie “Cars.”
How the boy’s body got to be where it was found and other circumstances can’t be determined until authorities know who he is.
McDonough on Monday said he felt “frustrated” by the lack of information. He said he’s confident police are taking the correct steps.
“Someone knows who this is. Someone is holding back for some reason,” said McCausland, the public safety spokesman.
Anyone with information is asked to call Maine State Police at 657-3030.
A candlelight vigil has been planned for 6 p.m. tonight outside South Berwick Town Hall.
— The Associated Press contributed to this report. Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 or twells@journaltribune.com.
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