According to reports, more remains have been discovered that may belong to Avonte Oquendo, the missing boy from Queens. While the boy's family was awaiting DNA results from remains discovered last week, the family's attorney confirmed on Monday, Jan. 20 that police discovered new remains, CBS reports.
"They found a skull - presumptively of the same body - and there are some teeth, so that may provide more information if there are dental records," David Perecman, the family's attorney said. "I cannot confirm at this point."
Last week an arm, leg and pieces of clothing were found in a river near College Point, Queens. According to CBS, police determined that the five-and-half Nike Jordan sneakers and size 16 jeans found matched what Oquendo was wearing the day he disappeared.
Investigators are still trying to figure out how the young boy's body ended up in College Point and if foul play was involved. The discovery of remains was especially hard for the family to hear. Oquendo's father Daniel immediately flew from Florida to New York after hearing the news and the boy's mother, Vanessa Fontaine refused to believe the remains belonged to her son until a positive ID came back from DNA testing.
The 14-year-old boy, who was described as severely autistic and unable to speak, was last seen on Oct. 4 walking past security as he left his Long Island City, Queens school. Shortly after Oquendo went missing Perecman said the family filed $25 million notice of claim against the school because they believe the boy was not properly supervised.
Following a DNA test match, a formal lawsuit will be filed. The attorney also said he is looking into claims that there may be more surveillance video at the school that could provide information on how Oquendo left the school without being noticed. He also believes there may be audio to go along with the video and he hopes the addition footage was not being withheld from the distraught family, CBS reports.
"I'd like to think that the Department of Education would not do something that surreptitious," he said.
The cause of death has not been determined yet but according to the New York Post, Oquendo might have accidentally fell into the river while trying to escape a dog. "Law-enforcement sources" told the newspaper that there has been reports that the 14-year-old boy was seen running from a dog shortly after he went missing and "he likely fell into the East River in his panic."
According to the New York Daily News, police claim they have already looked into this possibility and believe it was not a factor in the boy's death.
"That tip was followed up early in the investigation as well as video reviewed," the Daily News' source said. "The information is not accurate."
Update:
According to several reports the New York City medical examiner's office has confirmed that the human remains found last week do belong to Avonte Oquendo.
