Boy Dies After His Birthday Party

An Idaho boy, Matthew Glynn, who went missing during his fifth birthday party, has been found dead in a canal approximately half a mile from his home. The Boise Police Department confirmed that the nonverbal child with autism was discovered "deceased in the water" following an extensive search effort that began Monday night. Boise Police Chief Ron Winegar expressed the heartbreak of the situation, stating, "It is heartbreaking to have such a conclusion to this effort when we had so hoped to find Matthew alive and well." The search for Glynn commenced around 5:45 p.m. local time after he disappeared from his home. A large-scale operation was launched, involving Boise Police, Boise Fire, and Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue, utilizing drones, K9 units, and utility task vehicles. Detectives from the Ada County Child Abduction Response Team also conducted door-to-door inquiries in the vicinity of his disappearance. In a unique approach to attract Glynn's attention, searchers played his favorite song, "Wheels on the Bus," as part of their efforts. Scotty Perkins, a spokesperson for Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue, noted that understanding the behaviors of nonverbal autistic individuals can guide search strategies. Boise Fire Chief Mark Niemeyer expressed condolences to Glynn's family, stating, "This is not the outcome we were all hoping for." The Boise Police Department indicated that while the body found is presumed to be Glynn, official identification will be conducted by the Ada County Coroner’s Office.