Kansas authorities and volunteers have now search five parks in the Wichita area, in hopes of finding any clues that would lead to the whereabout of missing boy, Lucas Hernandez, but nothing has surfaced.
On Tuesday evening, authorities, acting on a tip, searched a disturbed rock pile at Chapin Park. They later reported that nothing connected with the disappearance of 5-year-old Lucas was found. The following morning, volunteers began searching Cottonwood Park, off of South Armour, according to KSN.
“We’ve searched through creeks, trees, the park area, we’ve just been through everything we possible can to find him,” volunteer Dusty McElwain said.
On previous days, authorities conducted in-depth searches at Harrison and Cottonwood parks, where hundreds of officers conducted a grid search, while divers searched surrounding waters and dogs, horses, and drones assisted in the search efforts. Still, they found no signs of Lucas.
“We continue to investigate this, I know it is on the minds and hearts of many in our community.”
Anyone with information on Lucas’ whereabout is urged to contact tip line at 316-383-4661.
Timeline of Lucas Hernandez Disappearance
February 18
Kansas police are searching for a 5-year-old boy last seen in his Wichita home on Saturday afternoon, and are asking the public for any known information about his whereabouts.
The Wichita Eagle reports that Lucas Hernandez was last seen on Saturday at around 3 p.m. at his home off of the 600 block of south Edgemoor, near Lincoln. According the the Missing Pieces Network, a non-profit organization that assists in finding missing persons, the father’s girlfriend was taking care of Lucas and his infant sister when he vanished. She apparently took a nap at around 3 p.m., when Lucas was napping, but when she woke up, he was missing and the back door of the home was open.
Lucas’ father, who drove home after learning the boy was missing, said that all of his son’s belongings, including his shoes and jacket, were still in the home. The child’s biological mother was reportedly in the another state when he disappeared.
Lucas is described 4 feet tall and weighs around 60 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes, and was last seen wearing white socks, black pants, and a grey shirt with a teddy bear on the front. He also has a cleft palate and a speech impediment. His family reported that it’s not typical for the boy to wander off.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact 911 immediately.
February 19
As Kansas authorities enter their third day of searching for a little boy who disappeared on Saturday from his Wichita home, family members are speaking out over past concerns regarding the child’s welfare.
The Wichita Eagle reports that 5-year-old Lucas Hernandez was reported missing on Saturday evening at around 6:15 p.m. The child’s stepmother, 26, told authorities she last saw the boy at 3 p.m., when she put him down for a nap, then took a nap herself with her infant daughter. The boy’s father was at work when the incident occurred, while his biological mother was in another state.
Sally Rasmussen, Lucas’ great aunt, told the outlet that she got in touch with the the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) last year after over concerns regarding the little boy’s care. Lucas’ great grandmother, Jeannie Houchin, said that DCF was investigating the incident, although the exact details of what prompted the call to social services in the first place remains unclear.
Officer Charley Davidson stated on Sunday that authorities searched the home and surrounding areas, but so far, haven’t had luck locating Lucas. There were no signs of a home break-in and nothing inside the residence was out of place.
Authorities also concentrated on the area around Chisholm Creek Park near 29th and Oliver, but haven’t made any announcements since then. As of Monday morning, Lucas still remains missing. Police announced the FBI is assisting in the search for Lucas, and they are not asking for the public’s help in search efforts. Instead, they encourage the public to share the boy’s flyer.
February 21
As the search for 5-year-old Kansas boy Lucas Hernandez reaches its fourth day, his father is speaking out, hoping to have his son home safe as soon as possible.
“We miss and love him with all our hearts. We just want our baby boy home with us again safe,” Lucas’ dad told CrimeOnline.
Lucas was last seen on Saturday at around 3 p.m. at his home off of the 600 block of south Edgemoor, near Lincoln in Wichita. The father’s girlfriend was taking care of Lucas and his younger sister when he vanished. She apparently took a shower and then nap at around 3 p.m., while Lucas also napped, but when she woke up, the back door of the home was open and the little boy was nowhere in sight.
The boy’s dad said Lucas was shy and soft-spoken and generally would not approach strangers. He also told CrimeOnline that Lucas has a speech impediment and although it may be difficult for people who don’t know him to understand his speech, the boy is capable of communicating and calling out for help.
“His speech is different than a normal 5-year-old, because he does have a cleft palate. He speaks well but hard to understand him if you aren’t used to his speech. Anyone should be able to understand him if they listen closely to what he’s saying. He can call for help, yell, scream etc. Everything with his voice is just fine.”
Lucas’ father, who drove home from an out-of-town work site after learning the boy was missing, said that all of his son’s belongings, including his shoes and jacket, were still in the home. The child’s biological mother was reportedly in another state when he disappeared. Lucas lives in Wichita full-time with his dad, his dad’s girlfriend, and a younger toddler sister.
February 21
The stepmother of missing 5-year-old Kansas boy, Lucas Hernandez, was arrested on Wednesday afternoon on child endangerment charges.
According to the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, 26-year-old Emily Glass is charged with two counts of child endangerment. So far, little details are available surrounding details of the arrest, but local station KAKE reported that the child’s grandmother gave the station photos of Lucas with bruises on his back and arms.
The grandmother stated that family members contacted social services and reported abuse in the past in another state, but nothing had yet been done about it to her knowledge.
**UPDATE**
On Monday, Glass was formally charged with one felony count of child endangerment, in connection with her 1-year-old daughter. The incident reportedly occurred prior to Lucas’ disappearance and authorities have reason to believe drugs were involved.
February 23
Kansas authorities returned to Chisholm Creek Park in Wichita on Friday, after receiving a new tip regarding missing 5-year-old, Lucas Hernandez, who disappeared six days ago.
“Information we have received during the investigation has led us to Chisholm Creek Park area,” Officer Charley Davidson with the Wichita PD said, according to The Wichita Eagle. “And we will be searching that area.”
Both entrances to the park have been blocked off while numerous officers were spotted conducting what was likely a detailed grid search of the area. The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, along with the FBI, are currently assisting with the search.
Check back with CrimeOnline as additional details become available.
[Feature Photo: Lucas Hernandez/Family Handout]
