WASHINGTON -
D.C. police say a 7-year-old boy with autism has been found dead in a car near the family's home.
Michael Kingsbury disappeared Sunday morning near his home in Northeast D.C.
Police say he was found inside a locked car behind a short fence on private property just two apartment buildings down from where he lived.
D.C. police and dozens of recruits went going door-to-door in the Trinidad neighborhood where Kingsbury was last seen around 9 a.m. Sunday.
Michael's mother, Katrina Kingsbury, thanked the community Monday night for coming out to help with the search.
Many who helped look for the little boy just can't imagine how they missed him.
"We were there four times," said Gaston McVea, who was one of the dozens of people who helped search for Kingsbury after he disappeared. "That was our central location and somehow we missed this."
A death investigation is now underway.
"One of the things that we need to figure out is, first of all, when exactly did the child get into the car," said D.C. Police Assistant Chief Peter Newsham. "It's too early to determine whether or not somebody missed something or not. Obviously, we'll look into all of that."
Meanwhile, many in the Trinidad community said they are angry by what they believe was a late response and lack of resources dedicated to searching for the missing boy. Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie said he understands the concerns.
"Folks in the community were concerned, [they] have every right to be concerned," he said. "But obviously, I'm more concerned about Miss Kingsbury and the family, specifically, how they're going to get through this trying time."
Michael Kingsbury was last seen wearing just a diaper and possibly a red t-shirt. His 5-year-old sister told their mother he was skipping down an alley behind their home on West Virginia Avenue.
"My daughter came in and said my son was out back playing around the yard and I go out back to tell him to come in the house and he was nowhere to be in sight," said Katrina Kingsbury. "And I haven't seen my son since Saturday night and I'm just going crazy. I just want somebody to bring my son home. He's been loved and I just miss him so much and I just want him to come home."
Her neighbors said it is all they can think about.
"It's upsetting," said Anita Powell. "Since I heard it yesterday, I've just been praying for the family and the little boy."
Powell said she is concerned because of some of the people who live in and visit this neighborhood.
"With all the prostitution and stuff in this area, something long should have been done about it," she said. "And I just really hope that [someone] hasn't come and picked up this little child and taken him away."
Katrina Kingsbury said she and her young children just moved to the neighborhood in April.
"He's at the high spectrum now because he can read," said Michael's mother. "He has a photographic memory. He can talk. He can talk to me. Carry a full conversation with me. He can spell. He knows his name. He knows how to write his first name."
RIP Michael
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