NEW YORK — A 16-year-old tourist visiting New York from California was separated from his family outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan a day ago and was reported missing, authorities said.
Connor Lian is said to be speechless and has autism, adding to his family’s concern.
According to police and his family, Lian visited the New York Public Library with his parents and twin brother on Wednesday afternoon. They were all walking towards Bryant Park, past the iconic Fifth Avenue Cathedral, when a funeral service passed by with a hearse-drawn carriage, drums and music.
Lian was separated from her family around 5 p.m. Her mother thinks she may have been distracted by the procession and followed it, or may have gone into hiding because she hates loud noises, she said.
It’s unclear which direction he went, but the family say they desperately want to bring him home. People close to him point out that he answers “Red” or “Connor Red” and is about 5-foot-6 and weighs 125 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.
Lian was last seen wearing a gray coat with a blue water bottle in one of the pockets, a long-sleeved black shirt, and brown shoes. He had on a beige golf cap with the logo “121st US Open – Torrey Pines” with an image of a tree on the cap.
The family shared additional photos in hopes of spreading the word.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call police at 1-888-57-PISTA.