Zion police fear the worst for missing baby
Zion police say they are fearing the worst regarding a 5-month-old baby boy missing since Wednesday morning.
The infant, Joshua Summeries, was reported missing about 8 a.m. Wednesday from an apartment on the 2300 block of Galilee Avenue. The caller indicated that “unknown persons” had abducted the boy, according to police.
Police Chief Wayne Brooks said in a news release Thursday that more than 200 law enforcement personnel have looked for the baby, but the search so far has come up empty.
“Our concern and belief is that Joshua has been harmed or worse,” Brooks said. “We are committed to using every available resource at our disposal, as witnessed yesterday when more than 200 law enforcement personnel responded to our call for mutual aid.”
Brooks asked that residents on the 2300 block of Galilee Avenue do a detailed search of their property — specifically their garbage and refuse containers — to see if any evidence of the baby is there.
“The waste containers’ contents are emptied weekly which carries with it the risk of destroying or losing evidence,” Brooks said. “We have asked our refuse collector (Advance Disposal) not pick up the garbage in the surrounding area ... for one additional day.”
The department has been inundated with inquires from many volunteering help, Brooks said. However, the department is not forming any kind of volunteer search effort.
The investigation is progressing well and police continue to interview witnesses and persons of interest, he added.
Officers responding to the call Wednesday found evidence leading them to believe the circumstances surrounding the missing baby were suspicious, and the department reached out to the Lake County Major Crime Task Force, the Lake County Child Abduction Response Team, and the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System Mobile Field Force for help.
Police said this is an isolated case and no Zion residents are in danger.