NOTE: This update is ongoing. All updates on Leo Walker will be posted here. 

Live Oak Police Chief Buddy Williams held a press conference at 9:30 a.m. this morning to give an update on the search for Leo Walker, 9, who went missing early Wednesday morning.

“It’s more of the same of what’s been going on,” Williams said. “We are going to be doing a few things. We are going to expand the areas that we’ve actually done door-to-door interviews with and we’re going back to interview some of the people who were not home at the initial ‘knocks and talks’ is what we’re calling it.”

Williams also said efforts to drain the pond near Walker’s residence on East Duval Street is continuing, despite the heavy rain that passed through the county last night.

“We’re still continuing to drain the pond behind the residence. That’s going pretty good. It’s a natural collector of rain water and we had quite a large amount of rain last night, but we’re still pumping it. It’s going to take about two days,” Williams said. 

According to LOPD Sgt. Justin Bates, other ponds in the area could be drained as the investigation furthers. 

“We still have aviation units. We still have K-9 units. We still have all of the things necessary going on. We’re just looking for anything that we can to find Leo,” Williams said. “We’re going to continue to search to make sure that we have a good outcome.”

So far, over 250 civilians have signed up and volunteered their time to search for Walker. Williams called their efforts “invaluable.”

“Let me tell you, it’s invaluable,” he said. “They started up at 8:30 again this morning. At last count, there was 267 that signed up yesterday. It’s invaluable to us. With that many eyes, and that many ears, it’s important and we greatly appreciate what they’re doing. They’re covering a mass amount of area for us. We would have eventually got to it, but it would be days down the line. I’m so thankful for this community and the volunteers.”

When asked about how the family was handling the situation, Williams said they’re responding as anyone would in this situation.

“The family is nervous. They’re distraught as any parent would be of an autistic child or any child missing at this point,” Williams said. 

Williams they are investigating everything and foul play has not been ruled out. 

Williams said they have gained no new information regarding the whereabouts of the child when he was discovered missing early Wednesday morning by his mother except for the information that was received from the original call. 

“We don’t have anything to disprove that,” he said. 

Regarding Walker, Williams said he gained new information today that he is a people person.

“Today, there was some information given out about him that he likes people and he likes, more so, male figures. He likes videos of cars,” said Williams. 

When asked about Walker’s safety in the rain, Williams said most autistic children love water.

“A lot of autistic children love water. What is rain? It is water. I don’t know if he loved to play in the rain. I don’t know if he would seek shelter. I remember as a kid if a rain shower came, I didn’t seek shelter I sought going outside and getting in the rain,” said Williams. “Their mind is a beautiful thing and we can only guess, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.” 

Williams reminds everyone to continue to pray and remain vigilant. 

“If you hear or see anything, please call the sheriff’s office and get the information to us quickly,” Williams noted.

Walker was last seen around the 700 block of East Duval Street. Walker has blonde hair, blue eyes, and was wearing blue shorts and no shoes. He is autistic.

Based on the information that has been given to Williams, he said Walker will speak, but he has a limited vocabulary. Williams said If you have someone who fits Walker’s description, please call 911 immediately.

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Media briefiing will be held at 9 a.m. Friday with Live Oak Police Chief Buddy Williams. We will update here after. 

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5:30 p.m.

Live Oak Police Chief Buddy Wiliams said a lake on the north side of East Duval Street, across from Lee Avenue and near the home of missing Leo Walker, will be drained beginning sometime after 6 p.m. tonight as a precautionary measure only. It is important to note, Williams said, that they are draining the lake only for precautionary measures and not as an indication that they believe missing Leo Walker is there. The lake will be drained into the city’s stormwater drains and will take about two days to complete drain, Williams said. 

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4 p.m.

An FDLE spokesperson said that voluntary citizen searches for Leo Walker will cease at 8 p.m. tonight and will reconvene tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. at the Suwannee County Coliseum on 11th Street in Live Oak. Official search and rescue efforts are ongoing. 

There are no new updates on the disappearance of Walker.

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Live Oak Police Chief Buddy Williams stopped by the Democrat offices Thursday afternoon and said the search continues for nine-year-old Leo Walker who was reported missing Wednesday morning around 4 a.m. from his home on East Duval Street. 

“Today is just a continuation of everything we have been doing. We’re retracing our steps and taking any new leads,” Williams said. “We’ve received several new leads this morning. We will trace all new leads until they are confirmed or negated.”

Beginning this morning, local residents have made their way to the Suwannee Coliseum to join the search efforts. The civilian volunteer teams are searching on foot and handling whatever tasks that need to be done through coordinated efforts of local law enforcement, Williams said.

Helicopters have also been canvassing the ground from the air with the use of technology such as  infrared cameras. 

While all areas are being searched, Williams said they are also conducting an investigation to aid in their search.

“We’re currently investigating the situation and investigating neighbors and family members,” Williams said. “We want to make sure all avenues are covered.”

Williams said the FBI, FDLE and sheriff’s offices from Suwannee, Columbia, Marion, Lafayette and Hamilton counties are participating in the search. The Florida Wildlife Conservation, St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Customs and National Center for Missing and Exploited Children have also volunteered. He also said all law enforcement agencies in the Third Circuit are on standby as needed. 

According to Williams, Alachua County will be on standby on Friday with their chopper if needed. FWC and diving teams have been on hand and Williams confirmed all bodies of water within the area have been searched.

“We have an established plan extended throughout the weekend,” he said. “I’ve been truly amazed at the cooperation (of residents and law enforcement agencies) and how everybody is wanting to help out.”

The Live Oak Police Department is still searching for leads. Anyone with information is encouraged to call 386-362-7463 or the emergency operations center at 386-330-3501. 

“All leads are being handled immediately,” Williams said. “We’re in active search mode and we’re hoping for a good outcome.”

Walker was last seen around the 700 block of East Duval Street. Walker has blonde hair, blue eyes, and was wearing blue shorts and no shoes. He is autistic.

Based on the information that has been given to Williams, he said Walker will speak, but he has a limited vocabulary. Williams said If you have someone who fits Walker’s description, please call 911 immediately.

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As of noon Thursday, there were about 30-35 citizen volunteers at the Coliseum to help in the search of Leo Walker. As soon as a group of 10-12 is assembled, they are sent out. They are doing grid searches. They’re going around the schools today and will end up around the Coliseum area. Department of corrections officers are going out with each group to help stay organized in the search process.

“We’re grateful for all the assistance given to us by the community. We will continue to search until all leads run out,” said Live Oak Police Lt. Keith Davis.

He encourages anybody who has any information to call the LOPD at 386-362-7463, 911 or the emergency operations center at 386-330-3501.

Thoughts from some of those volunteering:

Rick and Kathy Rachal of Lake City:

“We have a 16 year old autistic grandson, so we know what these parents are going through. Our hearts are broken and we knew we had to do something. We hope we can find him where ever he is at.”

Rebecca Ambrose of Live Oak:

“I couldn’t dream of not being here. I have three kids a nephew that is autistic. If it was one of my kids, I would want all of the help that would be here to help with my kids.”

Brittany Slane of Live Oak:

“My son is seven years old and he is autistic, and I would want the same help from everybody if my son was the one missing. I’m glad to be here to help in this cause.”

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10:35 a.m. update Those wishing to volunteer to help in the search for Leo Walker are encouraged to be at the Coliseum. They are being coordinated now.  The Coliseum is located off 11th Street in Live Oak, next to Shands Live Oak. 

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Live Oak Police Sgt. Justin Bates said this morning there are no leads or no new sightings of 9-year-old Leo Walker who was last seen at his Duval Street home in Live Oak around 4 a.m. Wednesday morning. Only one possible sighting of Walker was reported to officials Wednesday afternoon, however, that proved fruitless. 

Meanwhile, the FBI, FDLE, FWC and numerous local law enforcement have started back at square one, the home in which Walker shared with his family, who are being kept in seclusion for now. 

Bates asks the public to remain vigilant, keep a watchful eye out for Walker and pass around his photo on social media and through the community. 

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The FBI and FDLE have joined in the search for a missing 9-year-old autistic boy who was last seen at his Duval Street home in Live Oak around 4 a.m. Wednesday morning.

There are still no leads into the disappearance of Leo Walker. He was last seen by his mother in their home in the 700 block of East Duval Street. According to LOPD Sergeant Justin Bates, the mother saw Walker around 4 a.m.; she fell asleep for about 15 minutes and when she woke up, Walker was gone. 

Officials began the search for Walker early with their staging center just down the road from the Walker residence at Live Oak Fire Department. The search focused in that area but was quickly expanded as someone matching Walker’s description was reportedly sighted near Silas Drive in the southwest part of the city, near First Federal Sportsplex.

“I can’t say for a fact that it was him. We did make contact with a blond-headed young kid over there that was not Leo,” said Live Oak Police Chief Buddy Williams. “That doesn’t say that he couldn’t have been over there, also. We’ve not got a confirmed anything that Leo was over off of Silas Drive at this point.”

Suwannee Correctional Institution officers and K9 officers searched several areas before heavy rains broke the trail. 

Williams continued, “We’ve got an article of clothing to use the scent from, but we also have to look at we’ve had a lot of rain today which couldn’t have happened at a worse time. If we had a person in the area and the scent is fresh, that’s what the dogs are going to pick up on. They’re an excellent resource, they’re not perfectly 100 percent all the time. But, do we know if he was there or not? Not for certain, but we’re glad people are out trying to help us any way they can to help us find this young boy.”

As of 4:30 p.m., the search continues, and Williams said they will continue to search for “as long as it takes.”

“The biggest thing I can tell you is we’re going to re-group and start back to square one again,” said Williams. “We’ve had a couple of suspected sightings. We don’t know if they were confirmed or not, but we have to check out every lead in a situation such as this.”

Williams said they have all the resources you could imagine in the search. 

“So, now we’re going to go back to where the initial complaint came from. Start doing neighborhood canvases again and see if vets us any new information,” said Williams. 

Walker has blonde hair, blue eyes, and was wearing blue shorts and no shoes. He is 4’7″ and weighs 87 pounds. Bates said Walker is not believed to have left with anyone. It is believed Walker left his home on his own. Walker does not speak and has left the house one time before, but was discovered quickly about a block from his home. 

The LOPD encourages anyone with information to please call 386-362-7463, or the sheriff’s office at 386-362-2222 or 911.