Crystal Lake: Police search for 16-year-old with Down syndrome

Crystal Lake police launched a large-scale search on Sunday for a 16-year-old local resident who has Down syndrome and autism. The investigation began shortly after 10 a.m. when officers responded to a missing person report.

Aaron Miller, 16, was last seen by his family on Saturday evening. His father informed a McHenry County Sheriff’s Office deputy that his wife discovered the teen missing the following morning. The deputy noted that the accuracy of those specific timestamps was uncertain.

Police radio traffic indicated that the teen may be wearing a ghost face costume. A dispatcher told responding units that Miller loves Halloween decorations and might be inspecting them or hiding in a backyard as a decoration. Officers were instructed to look for a black cape and a mask.

A resident reported seeing a person in a black outfit holding a mask in a yard near Hannah Beardsley Middle School around 8:15 a.m. Sunday. That individual was heading toward Pingree Road and Terra Cotta Avenue. The resident provided video and photo evidence to police.

Officers searched several areas, including subdivisions in unincorporated areas near Crystal Lake. Deputies also checked the area near Prairie Ridge High School on Crystal Lake Avenue. Later, officers searched on foot in a wooded section between the parking lot of Willow Creek Community Church and the train tracks.

Miller’s mother, Lori Miller, confirmed the missing person status in a social media post just before noon. She stated that the family was still searching shortly before 1 p.m. She asked anyone who sees her son to approach, intervene, and call the police. Dozens of residents reported joining the search by car, on foot, or by bike.

The Crystal Lake Police Department had not issued a formal missing person advisory or press release by Sunday afternoon. Residents can reach the department at 815-356-3620.