'Autistic' Boy, 4, Found Walking Street Near His Home

A 4-year-old boy wearing only a pajama top was found wandering on an East Providence street last Sunday afternoon, Sept. 8. 

An East Providence woman spotted the boy, described only as Hispanic, walking by himself west about a quarter mile from the Rockin’ Times bar at 478 Waterman Ave. near Warwick Avenue at about 4:05 pm. 

The East Providence police report of the incident indicates that the boy is autistic and does not speak English or Spanish. He did not appear to suffer any injuries despite being naked from the waste down.

The boy’s mother said he was playing inside their Charles Street home when he disappeared. She told police that she searched the home and yard before calling the police no more than 15 minutes after the boy apparently wandered out of the front gate.

The boy’s mother retrieved him from the police department, which took custody of the boy after he was found. The RI Department of Children, Youth and Family was contacted, according to the incident report.