Public's Help Sought In 2 Unrelated Missing Person Cases: Riverside PD

RIVERSIDE, CA — Two people were the subjects of unrelated missing person cases in Riverside, and police hope public tips can help locate the at-risk individuals.

A 14-year-old autistic boy who wandered away from his home near downtown Riverside was the subject of one search Tuesday.

Chris Cruz was last seen shortly before 10 a.m. in the 5200 block of Jurupa Avenue, near Tucson Court, in an area known as the "Wood Streets," the city's oldest neighborhood.

The Riverside Police Department issued a "moderate alert" on the city's missing person system, signaling that the disappearance was not believed to be connected with a crime.

The agency stated Cruz is considered at-risk "due to being autistic."

"We have our officers and our bloodhound `Ruger' searching ... for Chris," according to RPD. "He was last seen walking toward the (Santa Ana) River bottom but has not been seen since."

Chris is 5 feet, 11 inches and 180 pounds, with black wavy hair, brown eyes and traces of a mustache. He was wearing all-black clothing when he was last seen, police said.

Anyone with information was asked to contact the police department at 951-354-2007.

In the other case, a 64-year-old woman with dementia wandered away from her west Riverside home Tuesday.

Michelle Ringler was last seen about 8:30 a.m. leaving her family's residence in the area of Lyon and La Sierra avenues, in a neighborhood known as La Sierra Hills, according to the Riverside Police Department.

The agency issued a "moderate alert" on its missing persons portal, indicating that Ringler's disappearance was not believed to be connected with a crime.

RPD said that she is considered to be at-risk "due to cognitive delays and ... dementia."

"We have officers searching the area," according to the police department. "Miss Ringler does not have a cell phone with her and could possibly appear disoriented."

Ringler is white, 5-foot-6 and 100 pounds, with red hair and green eyes. She was last seen wearing a gray jacket and multi-colored Capri pants.

Anyone with information was asked to contact the city's Public Safety Dispatch Center at 951-354-2007.