BOISE, Idaho — The Ada County Coroner's Office on Wednesday afternoon confirmed the body crews found in a Boise canal is missing 5-year-old Matthew Glynn. He was found less than 24 hours after he was reported missing.
The coroner's report states at 11:52 a.m., they were dispatched to the Farmer's Union Canal on West State Street and West Alamosa Street. Glynn's death was deemed an accidental drowning, and he was pronounced dead at 12:42 p.m.
As previously reported, in a second news conference on Tuesday afternoon, Boise Police Department Chief Ron Winegar announced search crews found a body they initially presumed to be 5-year-old Matthew Glynn in a canal roughly a half mile away from his home.
"It is heartbreaking to have such a such a conclusion to this effort when we had so hoped to find Matthew alive and well," he said.
BPD searched alongside Boise Fire and Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue. Search and Rescue spokesperson Scotty Perkins said they found Glynn's body in Farmers Union Canal around 11:30 a.m. while in an inflatable kayak.
Glynn wandered away from his birthday party Monday night. Authorities said the non-verbal, autistic child was wearing Batman pajamas with a yellow collar and was most likely shoeless.
Perkins said Search and Rescue volunteers used UTVs, drones, mountain bikes and K-9s. They also played his favorite song, "Wheels on the Bus."
"When you have an autistic subject that's nonverbal, they tend to exhibit preferences and behaviors that are potentially a little bit more predictable," he said. "So, we employed some of those strategies that we had been given."
KTVB talked to Matthew's mother briefly over the phone on Tuesday. She said she is "heartbroken" and trying to process what happened. She encouraged everyone to wear blue on Wednesday because that was his favorite color.
An investigation is ongoing; there are no signs of foul play, Winegar said.
Perkins said searches they participate in weigh heavily on the volunteers involved. There is counseling available, and the volunteers frequently check in with one another.
"We all know that that tragedies occur, and in the event that that were needed, we're happy to come and offer support wherever we can," he said while tearing up. "We thank Boise Police Department. We thank Boise Fire for giving us the opportunity to help. Our hearts go out to the family."
BPD issued a 'Code Red' when Matthew went missing, not an Amber Alert. Amber Alerts are traditionally used for abducted persons or children. Code Red alerts are for missing children who disappear on their own or by other circumstances that are not abduction.
Ada County officials encouraged everyone to sign up for Code Red alerts here.
Winegar reminded the public that canals are not recreational areas and that people should avoid them as much as possible.
