7-year-old boy with autism found dead in creek

June 14, 2011

Posted: Jun 12, 2011 1:57 PM EDT

Updated: Jun 13, 2011 7:23 PM EDT

AURORA, IN (FOX19) - It's a tragic ending for a 7-year-old boy who went missing

on Sunday afternoon.

Officers with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources found the body of

Burton Jr., 7, in North Hogan Creek on Monday morning just after 9 a.m.

Police say Burton was playing with his dog Sunday afternoon in area of Park

Avenue in Aurora near a creek. The dog returned to the boy's home at 451 Park

Avenue and was wet, but the boy was not with the pet.

The family had just moved to the Aurora neighborhood this weekend, meaning it

was a new environment for the child.

Over 150 people were out at one point looking for Burton on Sunday. People who

did not even know the family searched for hours.

" Everybody wants the same thing, to find a healthy, happy 7-year-old, " said

Gallagher. " We are a very close-knit community and we just had to band

together to help out. "

's parents say he would sometimes hide from people he believes are looking

for him.

The search for Burton on Sunday ended around 9 p.m. when conditions became too

dark for volunteers.

The search resumed Monday morning, but search crews were called back shortly

after heading out after officers found the body.

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