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Update: Remains Found in River Belong to Avonte Oquendo, Officials Say

Human remains found near the East River in Queens, New York, belong to Avonte Oquendo, an autistic teenager who was missing since October.

UPDATE:

Human remains found in the East River in Queens, New York, Thursday belong to Avonte Oqeundo, officials said Tuesday. This is a sad ending to a more than three-month search for the missing autistic 14-year-old, who walked out of his high school on Oct. 4. 
The clothing and body parts discovered on Jan. 16. were matched to Avonte's DNA, given by his family. The cause of his death is still being determined, the medical examiner said.

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Human remains found near the East River in Queens, New York, are being investigated for a possible link to Avonte Oquendo, a missing autistic teenager. 
The NYPD has contacted Avonte's family about a human arm and leg that was found on a rock in the river Thursday evening, sources told ABC. A 14-year-old girl called 911 after she came across them. 
A pair of sneakers were also found, but police have not identified who it belongs to. The remains have been taken to the morgue and officials are expected to continue to search the waters Friday for additional body parts. 

Avonte, 14, is non-verbal and was last seen in the beginning of October when he walked out of his school in Queens. The NYPD has led a huge effort in the search for Avonte, placing countless missing person signs in subway stations throughout the five boroughs.    
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Follow Natelege Whaley on Twitter: @Natelege.

 (Photo: AP Photo/National Center for Missing & Exploited Children)

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