x
Breaking News
More () »

Police release sketch of boy found dead on Galveston beach

GALVESTON, Texas - Sunday afternoon the Galveston Police Department released a sketch of the small child found dead on a beach in Galveston.

Police are asking for the public's help in identifying the little boy. The department released the following statement with the sketch:

"In an effort to identify this child, the Galveston Police Department contacted one of the most experienced and best forensic artists in the nation, Lois Gibson, and she was able to render a sketch of this child for us. The child is described as approximately 3’ tall with a slender build, black hair, and brown eyes.

This is an extremely unusual case for Galveston Island, and the circumstances surrounding this death grow more and more suspicious as time goes on.

We are still waiting on the official Medical Examiner’s report from the autopsy; however, we will continue to treat this death as a homicide until we can unequivocally prove otherwise.

We are asking everyone to please take a look at this child and see if you recognize him. This picture is now available on the City of Galveston Website and the Galveston Police Department’s social media outlets; please share it.

Someone, somewhere knows this child and can help us identify him."

The body of the little boy was found in the surf around 5:30 p.m. Friday by someone walking along the beach at 7th and Seawall.

Police said the little boy seems to have been between 3 and 5 years old.

A small group of people gathered on the beach on Saturday in a small vigil for the boy.

"It's just heartbreaking that this little boy doesn't have anybody to claim him. He's not missing. I mean, this boy did not deserve this. And, I couldn't sit at home and not do anything." said Tina Bebout who organized the vigil.

The Galveston Police Department held a press conference around 8:30 p.m. Friday.

"This is a very unusual case. It's very difficult as a police officer, as a police agency, and as a community, to have the death of a small child, lying in the sand, and to not have any answers to give anyone." said Capt. Joshua Schirard with Galveston PD.

Schirard said the area where the child's body was found is not a heavily populated area.

Police said they have checked with the surrounding counties, including Harris County, and so far no missing person's report matches the description of the little boy.

The US Coast Guard said they were not alerted of a missing child either.

Investigators said they don't want to rule any situation out, so they have also reached out to Child Protective Services to see if there's any way the agency can help identify the child.

Federal agencies, like US Customs and Border Protection are also searching their databases.

Galveston PD is asking anyone that may have any information concerning this case to call the department at 409-765-3702 or Galveston County Crimestoppers at 409-763-8477.

Before You Leave, Check This Out