FBI Involved In Search For Missing Gastonia Boy

GASTONIA, N.C. — The FBI is now involved in the search for a 6-year-old boy who was last seen at Rankin Park in Gastonia.

Mattox Ritch was last seen on Saturday afternoon around 1:30 p.m.  Ritch is autistic and non-verbal.  He was walking with his father and another adult when he ran ahead of them and went missing.

Investigators are searching a nearly 1400 acre area with search dogs and water rescue teams and have not ruled out the case becoming a criminal investigation.

Police are asking anyone who visited Rankin Park on Saturday to contact authorities if they saw Maddox or have pictures or video of the park from yesterday.