Formal search operations for 7-year-old missing from Eastwood MetroPark suspended

DAYTON — The search for a 7-year-old missing from Eastwood MetroPark transitioned to a recovery mission before being formally suspended Monday afternoon.

Lucas Rosales was last seen fishing with his family at Eastwood MetroPark Saturday evening. He is listed as three feet tall, 60 pounds with brown and brown eyes.

>>PHOTOS: Search for missing 7-year-old boy enters 3rd day at Eastwood MetroPark

Dayton Fire Captain Brad French said Monday evening that due to the timeline of the incident and the information available, the operation was transitioned from a search and rescue to a recovery operation.

“Over the past three days, crews have been actively searching on land and in the water for approximately 21 hours,” French said. “At this time, the child has not been located.”

Lucas’ father, Agustin Rosales, and sister, Da’Najiah Wakefield, spoke to News Center 7′s Taylor Robertson at the park Monday. They said said they were fishing with Lucas Saturday. Agustin said they were warning Lucas to not too close to the water. He then left his father and sister to join other members of his family because he was being too loud and scaring the fish.

Agustin then went to go find Lucas, another daughter and a family friend and the Wakefield said they don’t really know what happened after that.

“My sister said she heard something fall and someone crying, and she said she saw splashes in the water and after that, we just don’t know,” she explained.

French noted that more than 100 people, including multiple rescue crews, boats, trained volunteer search groups, K-9s, have searched the areas surrounding where Lucas was last seen. As News Center 7 previously reported, detectives expanded their search today to include the Stillwater and Great Miami rivers. A nearby pond was also drained as part of the search.

There was no reason to suspect foul play, a Dayton Police spokesperson said Monday morning.

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