10-25-2011, 07:12 AM
this does not appear to be a criminal matter, but another autistic child missing. he is non-verbal but "noisy". it's cold out at night, he needs to be found quickly.
Robert Wood Jr., 9. VA.
![[Image: robbie-wood-jr]](http://www2.timesdispatch.com/mgmedia/image/0/354/182148/robbie-wood-jr/)
![[Image: 20111023_boy]](http://www2.timesdispatch.com/mgmedia/image/0/354/182067/20111023_boy/)
![[Image: search-robbie-wood-jr]](http://www2.timesdispatch.com/mgmedia/image/294/0/182165/search-robbie-wood-jr/)
Richmond Times, Sunday
A 9-year-old autistic boy on a walk with family disappeared into North Anna Battlefield Park on Sunday afternoon while his father, brother and an adult woman stopped to take a break.
Robert "Robbie" Wood Jr. was reported missing at about 2:45 p.m. after he wandered away and left the trail.
Robbie, who is non-verbal, is a student at The Faison School for Autism in Richmond.
Michael Trice, a spokesman for the Hanover County Sheriff's Office, said air crews would continue searching for the boy throughout the night, as would searchers on the ground, including dogs.
"We have dozens and dozens of people looking for him," he said.
Hanover fire and EMS crews as well the Virginia State Police and the Caroline County Sheriff's Office were assisting with the search. Low temperatures through Sunday night were expected to be in the low to mid-40s, according to the National Weather Service.
Because the 80-acre park is not fenced in, there is a concern that Robbie could wander off the property, Trice said.
Monday
Citizen volunteers will be accepted Tuesday in the search for a missing Caroline County boy with autism.
More than 300 deputies and public safety personnel searched the area Monday surrounding the 80-acre North Anna Battlefield Park in Hanover County.
That is the last place 9-year-old Robert “Robbie” Wood Jr. was seen when he was touring the park with his family on Sunday afternoon.
According to Capt. Mike Trice with the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, the boy was walking along a trail with his father, his father’s girlfriend and his younger brother, who is also autistic.
The father, Robert Wood Sr., said the older boy ran off the trail into a wooded area after 2 p.m. He said he tried to chase after him, but he eventually lost sight of him.
The boy was reported missing to police about 2:45 p.m. Sunday.
Robbie is a nonverbal student at The Faison School for Autism in Richmond. He enrolled in the school in August.
Two of his teachers, Ashlea Krouse and Beth Newcomb, came to the scene Monday to help.
Krouse said it is not unusual for Robbie to run off.
“He doesn’t usually sit still, even in the classroom,” she said. “I’d imagine he’d be on the move the entire time unless he is injured.”
While Robbie doesn’t talk, she said he is not quiet and makes a lot of noises.
She said he most likely won’t respond to someone calling his name.
Trice said the family has been very cooperative and “is having a very understandably difficult time.”
Robbie lives in the Ladysmith area with his mother. His parents are separated.
Robbie’s challenges and the rough terrain of the area have made the search more difficult.
Trice said the Civil War battlefield is narrow and surrounded by a wooded area that is filled with brush, briar, ruts and valleys. It also borders the North Anna River.
HANOVER COUNTY, VA (WTVR) - The Hanover Sheriff’s Office is telling people who want to volunteer and search for missing nine-year-old Robbie Wood Jr., to not show up at the search site but rather at King's Dominion Tuesday morning.
Robert Wood Jr., 9. VA.
Richmond Times, Sunday
A 9-year-old autistic boy on a walk with family disappeared into North Anna Battlefield Park on Sunday afternoon while his father, brother and an adult woman stopped to take a break.
Robert "Robbie" Wood Jr. was reported missing at about 2:45 p.m. after he wandered away and left the trail.
Robbie, who is non-verbal, is a student at The Faison School for Autism in Richmond.
Michael Trice, a spokesman for the Hanover County Sheriff's Office, said air crews would continue searching for the boy throughout the night, as would searchers on the ground, including dogs.
"We have dozens and dozens of people looking for him," he said.
Hanover fire and EMS crews as well the Virginia State Police and the Caroline County Sheriff's Office were assisting with the search. Low temperatures through Sunday night were expected to be in the low to mid-40s, according to the National Weather Service.
Because the 80-acre park is not fenced in, there is a concern that Robbie could wander off the property, Trice said.
Monday
Citizen volunteers will be accepted Tuesday in the search for a missing Caroline County boy with autism.
More than 300 deputies and public safety personnel searched the area Monday surrounding the 80-acre North Anna Battlefield Park in Hanover County.
That is the last place 9-year-old Robert “Robbie” Wood Jr. was seen when he was touring the park with his family on Sunday afternoon.
According to Capt. Mike Trice with the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, the boy was walking along a trail with his father, his father’s girlfriend and his younger brother, who is also autistic.
The father, Robert Wood Sr., said the older boy ran off the trail into a wooded area after 2 p.m. He said he tried to chase after him, but he eventually lost sight of him.
The boy was reported missing to police about 2:45 p.m. Sunday.
Robbie is a nonverbal student at The Faison School for Autism in Richmond. He enrolled in the school in August.
Two of his teachers, Ashlea Krouse and Beth Newcomb, came to the scene Monday to help.
Krouse said it is not unusual for Robbie to run off.
“He doesn’t usually sit still, even in the classroom,” she said. “I’d imagine he’d be on the move the entire time unless he is injured.”
While Robbie doesn’t talk, she said he is not quiet and makes a lot of noises.
She said he most likely won’t respond to someone calling his name.
Trice said the family has been very cooperative and “is having a very understandably difficult time.”
Robbie lives in the Ladysmith area with his mother. His parents are separated.
Robbie’s challenges and the rough terrain of the area have made the search more difficult.
Trice said the Civil War battlefield is narrow and surrounded by a wooded area that is filled with brush, briar, ruts and valleys. It also borders the North Anna River.
HANOVER COUNTY, VA (WTVR) - The Hanover Sheriff’s Office is telling people who want to volunteer and search for missing nine-year-old Robbie Wood Jr., to not show up at the search site but rather at King's Dominion Tuesday morning.