The family of missing teen Avonte Oquendo tried a different tack this weekend in an effort to help bring Avonte home. On Sunday, a volunteer pilot flew a plane with a banner getting the word out about Avonte in the hopes of finding the 14-year-old autistic teen.
The banner read: Bring Avonte Oquendo home 1-800-577-TIPS. The plane flew over Manhattan and Queens on Sunday afternoon, according to ABC Local.com.
Oquendo has not been seen since he left his school in Long Island City on Oct. 4. Avonte is severely autistic and nonverbal.
On Saturday, volunteers moved into Jersey City to look for Avonte.
Since the search began, police have received hundreds of tips from the public and reviewed hundreds of videos for clues as to where he could be. Last week, a subway rider snapped a photo of a 13-year-old boy who resembled Avonte, but turned out not to be the missing teen. The photo showed a boy who resembles Avonte wearing a beige jacket and green khaki pants. The teen who took the photo asked the boy if he was Avonte, but the boy did not answer.
Although it was not him, the photo renewed some hope that a tip or sighting could eventually lead to the teen's discovery. His family is still hopeful that Avonte can be found alive.
"It's tough, it's just a tough situation right now," Avonte's father Daniel Oquendo said. "But we're hoping for the best."
His family operates the Avonte Oquendo search headquarters in a black RV and a white trailer on Borden Avenue off of Center Boulevard in Long Island City, Queens. The family posted a message on the Bring Avonte Home Facebook page asking for volunteers to donate more fliers.
The reward for information leading to his safe return is up to $95,000.
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