A DESPERATE hunt for a missing 11-year-old with autism has taken an emotional turn as police retrace his final known movements nearly a week after he vanished.

The nonverbal youngster’s devastated family said they are living “every parent’s worst nightmare” as the painstaking search continues.

Parker Wells disappeared from a day home in Calgary, Alberta, on Thursday, July 16

Parker was last seen shirtless, wearing grey shorts and black noise-cancelling headphones, at his day home on Connaught Drive N.W. sometime between 11:08 a.m. and 11:41 a.m. on Thursday

Cops are now playing Parker Wells’ favorite Disney music from patrol vehicles in the haunting hope that the familiar songs will draw him out of hiding.

Parker disappeared from a day home in Calgary, Alberta, on Thursday, July 16.

“We know that Parker loves Disney music, so recently we’ve had a police car play themes from his favourite Disney music in the area in hopes that may draw him out,” Acting Staff Sgt. Scott Guterson said.

The unusual tactic was developed with guidance from Parker’s family because of how he experiences and responds to the world around him.

Officers have warned searchers not to shout his name or approach him because he may become frightened and run away or hide.

Fresh surveillance footage has meanwhile helped investigators piece together more of Parker’s last-known steps through the city.

He was last accounted for at the day home on Connaught Drive Northwest sometime between 11:08am and 11:41am.

Clothing believed to belong to the youngster was discovered around noon in the 0 to 100 block of Northmount Drive Northwest.

Video later showed Parker near McKnight Boulevard and Centre Street Northwest.

His final confirmed sighting came at 12:52pm in the 5000 to 6000 block of Travis Crescent Northeast in Thorncliffe.

Parker is an 11-year-old nonverbal autistic child

The search efforts have brought in over 300 members of the Calgary Police Service in addition to search volunteers

The footage appeared to show him walking alone without a shirt.

He was wearing dark or gray shorts, sneakers and black noise-canceling headphones.

Technology used to examine the huge amount of surveillance footage helped investigators spot Parker briefly in a small area of the video.

Police are now seeking all dashcam, doorbell and security footage recorded in Thorncliffe after he disappeared.

Investigators said footage could still prove useful even when Parker does not appear in it.

An empty road or pathway could help police eliminate possible routes and determine which direction he traveled.

Officers have reviewed or collected more than 100 hours of footage and assessed over 150 tips.

Hundreds of police officers, emergency workers and trained volunteers have joined the search.

Dogs, helicopters, mounted officers, bike patrols and underwater cameras have also been deployed.

Crews have checked railway lines, waterways, parks, open spaces and hundreds of homes and businesses.

Police said they have received around 90 tips and are increasingly focused on areas connected to the 11-year-old’s last known reported sightings

Acting Staff Sgt. Scott Guterson has asked if anyone finds Parker to not approach him and call 911 to not scare him

Parker is described as four feet 11 inches tall and weighing approximately 90 pounds.

He has brown hair, brown eyes and a shaved head.

Parker has autism spectrum disorder and is nonverbal.

Police have said he may not respond when spoken to and could be intimidated by unfamiliar people calling his name.

Arwen Caines, an occupational therapist with the Society for Autism Support and Services, said the family’s advice must be followed, the Calgary Herald reported.

“If you know one individual with autism, you only know one individual with autism,” she said.

“If his family is saying ‘Don’t call his name, it’s not enticing for him,’ that’s something we really have to respect, because they know their son best.”

Autism Calgary also urged residents not to make assumptions about how Parker may act.

“Avoid acting on what you may assume or know about autism,” the group said.

“No two children with autism are the same. Please continue to listen to messaging and updates from these official channels.”

Local mother Jennifer Ball, whose seven-year-old son is nonverbal and autistic, joined the search after hearing Parker was missing.

“I know how quickly that can happen,” she said.

“If you have an autistic child, they do something — not all of them, but a lot of them — called eloping, and it’s when they just run.”

Police have said there is no evidence that Parker was abducted or that foul play was involved.

The case did not initially meet the requirements for an Amber Alert because there was no suspected abduction.

However, the Alberta government issued an emergency alert on Saturday because of Parker’s age and vulnerability.

His family has asked residents to check their yards, sheds, garages, vehicles, RVs, hot tubs and other places where he may have taken shelter.

“Parker experiences the world in his own way,” they said.

“He may not respond when his name is called, and he can become frightened when approached by people he does not know.”

Anyone who spots Parker has been told not to approach him.

They should give him space, immediately call police and try to keep him in view from a safe distance.

“Every hour that passes without knowing where he is or whether he is safe has been incredibly devastating for us,” his family said.

“A single sighting, a piece of video footage, or one small detail could help find him.”

They thanked the Calgary community for searching, sharing Parker’s photograph and providing footage to investigators.

“Knowing that so many wonderful people care and are tirelessly looking for our son has given us strength during the most difficult time of our lives,” they said.

“Parker is deeply loved, and he is missed immensely. We just want our son home.”

Source: https://www.the-sun.com/news/16726957/missing-boy-calgary-parker-search/