FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com OCTOBER 31, 2013 • THE QUEENS COURIER 11 Family hopeful autistic teen will be found alive BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA AND ANGY ALTAMIRANO editorial@queenscourier.com Although NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly said police are not hopeful they will find autistic teen Avonte Oquendo alive, the boy’s family continues the extensive search -- four weeks after he went missing from his Long Island City school. “Obviously we have devoted a tremendous amount of resources to the search,” Kelly told WABC New York. “Unfortunately, we are not hopeful that we’re going to find this young man alive, but we are continuing our search.” The teen’s mother, Vanessa Fontaine, and his brother, Daniel Oquendo, were upset by Kelly’s comment, and remain positive they will find Avonte alive. “NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly says we won’t find Avonte alive. His lack of faith in his own police force is very disturbing. This is a slap in the face to all those brave and valiant NYPD officers and volunteers who have worked tirelessly to find Avonte,” said Daniel through a post on his Instagram account. “Luckily we have the community on our side. With all your help we WILL find Avonte.” According to reports, Fontaine said she believes her son is still out there alive and she wants everyone to continue helping search for Avonte. “He is not gone,” she said. Last week, Kelly said the NYPD may need to scale back its search for the teen, according to reports. Avonte, 14, was last seen at the Center Boulevard School at 1-50 51st Avenue in Long Island City around 12:38 p.m. on Friday, October 4. There have been conflicting reports on how the Rego Park teen, who cannot verbally communicate and is supposed to be supervised at all times, managed to leave the school, said the family’s attorney, David Perecman. Great rates like these don’t grow on trees. 24-Month CD 1.20APY % APY * $5,000 minimum deposit 48-Month CD .65APY * $5,000 minimum deposit 1.65% 1.30%36-Month CD APY * $5,000 minimum deposit * New Accounts and new money only. APY effective October 17, 2013. Annual percentage yield assumes principal and interest remain on deposit for a full year at current rate. Minimum deposit balance of $5,000 is required. IRAs are not eligible. Funds cannot be transferred from an existing Flushing Bank account. Premature withdrawals may be subject to bank and IRS penalties. Rates and offer are subject to change without notice. Speak with a Flushing Bank representative for more information. All offers are subject to change and termination without prior notice at any time. From Forbes.com March 18, 2013. © 2013 Forbes.com LLC. All rights reserved. Used by permission and protected by the Copyright Laws of the United States. The printing, copying, redistribution, or retransmission of this Content without express written permission is prohibited. Flushing Bank is a registered trademark At Flushing Bank, we’re small enough to know you and large enough to provide you with the great rates you’re looking for. Hurry, rates like these won’t last forever. For more information and to find out about our other great offers, visit your local Flushing Bank branch, call 800.581.2889 or visit www.FlushingBank.com. According to Avonte’s grandmother, the security guard appointed to the front of the school said she had seen Avonte running towards the door, asked him where he was going and after he did not respond, she just allowed him to leave because she did not know he was a special needs student. Yet, according to Perecman, no student at the school is allowed to leave the property until dismissal. However, according to reports, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said the school safety officer did nothing wrong. Since Avonte went missing, the reward has increased to $95,000. The reward money includes the support of Health First, the employer of the missing teen’s mother, Suzanne and Bob Wright, co-founders of Autism Speaks, David Perecman of the Perecman Firm, Mayerson & Associates, a New York Law Firm which represents individuals with autism, Manhattan Children’s Center, a nonprofit private autism school an anonymous donor, an anonymous donor and other supporters. Avonte was last seen wearing a gray striped shirt, black jeans and black sneakers. He is 5’3” tall and weighs 125 pounds. Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call Crime stoppers at 800-577-TIPS. Photo courtesy of NYPD
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