Crews have searched parts of Mad River and the Great Miami River, including as far south as West Carrollton. Dayton Fire Department water rescue teams also operated in parts of Mad River Tuesday as part of a pre-scheduled training exercise and scanned the water for any signs of Lucas, Dayton fire Capt. Brad French said.
“The water flow in the Mad River has nearly doubled due to recent rains, but is expected to decrease in the coming days,” he added. “The decreasing water levels will provide the opportunity for the City of Dayton Department of Water to create a temporary dam on a portion of the Mad River to facilitate additional search.”
Police and fire crews are expected to be downstream of the dammed area later this week as water levels decrease.
“Emergency personnel and trained volunteers from several organizations have searched a land and water area of over 400 acres, and have spent more than 32 hours trying to locate Lucas since Saturday evening,” French said Tuesday.
The fire department said Monday the search for Lucas had transitioned from a rescue response to a recovery operation. The boy was last seen around 6:48 p.m. Saturday while he was with his family fishing.
Lucas was wearing a white shirt with black sleeves, black pants and black Converse shoes. The 7-year-old is 3 feet tall and weighs about 60 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes.
Police do not suspect foul play is involved.
Lucas’ mother said Tuesday it’s been very difficult waiting for her son to be found.
“You sit here waiting for him to come running out or something or for someone to tell you that they found him,” said Amanda Rosales. “When you’re just sitting here for hours upon hour and nobody’s found him yet it’s just torture.”
Rosales added she came to the park Saturday night when she found out Lucas was missing and stayed out all night looking for him.
She said Tuesday while at Eastwood MetroPark it was hard to be there while he still hasn’t been found.
“I wouldn’t wish this on anybody,” she said. “At the end of the day we see stuff like this on TV and we can shut it off and go about our day (without) another thought to it, but when it’s you in the situation there’s no words that exist that describe what I feel inside.”
In the past three days, crews have drained a pond and used thermal imaging devices, underwater and aerial drones and SONAR devices to search for Lucas. Search units deployed multiple boats to check the water and riverbanks.
The search on Saturday lasted for about three hours before it was suspended due to darkness, French said. The search resumed around 8 a.m. Sunday before it was temporarily suspended in the evening and then restarted again Monday morning.
On Monday, Lucas’ father, Agustin Rosales, encouraged people to continue praying for his son and that he is found. The father added they warned him to back up from the water because of the danger.
The boy’s sister, Da’najiah Wakefield, said Lucas was playing near her and their father but walked away to join other family members so he wouldn’t scare the fish.
One of their family members said they heard something fall and a splash, as well as someone crying, Da’naijaih said.
The family called for Lucas and looked for him for about 15 minutes before they called police.
The Riverside, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Huber Heights and Beavercreek Twp. fire departments, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Christian Aid Ministries, Five Rivers MetroParks, City of Dayton Water Department and others have assisted in the search.
About the Author