‘I just want to hold him;’ Mother of missing 7-year-old speaks out, wants her son home

DAYTON — News Center 7 is hearing from the mother of missing 7-year-old Lucas Rosales.

>>PHOTOS: Police, volunteers resume search for missing 7-year-old at Eastwood MetroPark

Dayton Police, Fire, and water rescue teams have searched more than 400 acres of land and water for Rosales.

His mother spoke with News Center 7 on Tuesday.

News Center 7′s Brandon Lewis said it was an emotional interview.

“I wake up and I just think of Lucas and just when I go back to sleep, I just tell him, ‘Mama’s coming,’” said Amanda Rosales, Lucas’ mother. “Then, I can’t find him and then it’s like, why can’t I find him?”

>>Dayton police, fire to resume search for missing 7-year-old as water levels decrease

She tells News Center 7 she wants her baby boy in her arms again.

Her 7-year-old has been missing since Saturday.

“When we find him, I’m going to wrap him up if he’s cold and I’m going to hold him,” she said.

Since Saturday, News Center 7 has watched crews look for Lucas on land and in the water at Eastwood MetroPark. There’s where he went missing after fishing with his family. Each minute without her son is breaking Amanda’s heart.

“To be here that many hours and they keep coming and they’re like, ‘nothing yet, nothing yet,’ she said. “Like, why nothing yet? He’s my baby.”

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She told News Center 7 her son loves sharks and enjoys drawing pictures of them but was scared of the water.

Amanda said Lucas was a Mama’s boy and described the past few days as hard and hopes people keep looking for her son.

“I just want to hold him, that’s the first thing,” Amanda said. “I want to put him in my arms. That’s my baby. I just want to hold him. I want to hold him and I want to keep him warm and safe.”

She says she is grateful to everyone who has helped with the search.

Lewis says the water flow in the Mad River has nearly doubled recently but will go down in the coming days.

When it does, the City of Dayton will make a temporary dam on part of the Mad River to help them search.

News Center 7 will continue to provide updates on this developing story.

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