Police: Eagle pond will be drained to look for missing 2-year-old boy
On the third day of the search for a 2-year-old child who went missing, police said they will try to drain a pond in Eagle near where he disappeared.
Rory Pope, the missing toddler, still has not been found despite searches from multiple law enforcement agencies and volunteers in the area.
About 100 law enforcement officers from around Ada County searched for the boy on Friday. Officers went door to door nearby to ask if homeowners would consent to searches of their property. They also asked drivers if they could look into their cars.
Eagle Police Chief Matt Clifford said visibility in the pond worsens once divers are in the water, which is why they’re draining it. Clifford said authorities hit a few snags but hoped to complete the drainage as soon as possible.
“It’s not a simple process to drain a pond — you have to put the water somewhere,” Clifford said. “But it is still in the works and we’re hoping to get that done today.”
Clifford said that people in the area should search their own homes for signs of the boy. Nearby residents were encouraged to look in small places on their properties, such as sheds, garages, cars and patio covers.
Investigators searched over 30 homes before noon on Friday but not have not found any evidence as to where Rory could be, according to the sheriff’s office.
In a Facebook post, the sheriff’s office also said “We are asking all residents of the neighborhood to search their yards, sheds, outbuildings, garages, cars and any container small enough for a toddler to hide in.”
“One of our biggest goals is to bring Rory home safe,” Clifford said. “He is described as an energetic young man, and he is curious about the world and has a little bit of a history of playing hide and seek with his parents.”
Nearby residents were also asked to review camera footage from their homes, including Ring doorbells and backyard cameras, for signs of the boy. Police sought footage between 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. Wednesday, just before the boy was known to be missing. Clifford urged residents to call Ada County non-emergency dispatch at 208-377-6790 to notify police of potentially relevant footage.
He also asked that people who were temporarily in the area, such as delivery or construction-truck drivers to call non-emergency dispatch if they know anything. He said not to call 911, which is reserved for emergencies.
“We are working every tip very tirelessly, night and day, but I think it’s important to bring up that sometimes people are reluctant to call in and give their information, because sometimes they believe information has already been given or that their information is not pertinent,” Clifford said. “I would ask that you allow us to be the judge of that.”
The Ada County Sheriff’s Office said the child was last seen about 12:15 p.m. Wednesday near Nordic Drive.
Rory is described as an outgoing child with curly blond hair, and he was last seen wearing a lime green shirt. Rory and his family are from out of state and were in the area visiting family when he went missing, according to police.
After the child was reported missing, dive teams with the Ada County Sheriff’s Office began searching nearby waterways. Gene Ralston, a local search and rescue expert, searched with a remote-controlled sonar device.
Police said earlier this week that there were no signs of foul play. Clifford said Friday that Rory’s family is cooperating fully with the investigation. Rory’s family is from out of state and was in Idaho visiting other family when he disappeared, Clifford said.
He added there was no need for an Amber Alert when the child was reported missing, as the case did not meet the criteria needed for an alert.
This story was originally published September 4, 2020 at 12:00 PM.
