The dad of a missing Crystal Lake boy had a message for his 5-year-old son, who hasn't been seen since Wednesday evening.
"Andrew, please come home," he said. "You are not in trouble."
Andrew Freund Sr. was seen walking the streets near his northwest suburban home as the search for the missing boy continued for a second day.
"AJ please come home," he said. "We love you."
Freund's son, also Andrew Freund, hasn't been seen since his parents put him to bed Wednesday evening.
Authorities said an investigation so far does not appear to indicate an abduction took place and said their investigation is currently centered on the child's home.
Meanwhile, they asked the public to "search your property" and "report anything suspicious to the Crystal Lake Police Department."
Freund said his friends and family were out searching for the boy Friday and added that he was cooperating with police.
Police said Friday that in the last 24 hours of their search, "several police search and rescue canine units, trained specifically to locate people... only picked up [Andrew Freund's] 'scent' within the residence indicating that Andrew had not walked away on foot."
Police searched 373 acres on foot and roughly 497 acres via an aerial search by drones, they said.
Boat and sonar technicians from fire departments in the area searched under all docks and piers along the shore length of Crystal Lake, authorities said. They also searched within the lake itself off of the Main Beach area.
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The teams ended their search around 10 p.m. Thursday without locating anything, police said.
"In reviewing all investigative information thus far, there is no indication that would lead police to believe that an abduction had taken place," police said in a statement. "At this point, the police department has no reason to believe there is a threat to the community."
Crystal Lake authorities said Andrew, who also goes by “AJ,” was last seen around 9 p.m. Wednesday in the 0-100 block of Dole Avenue.
Andrew's parents reported they last saw the boy at bedtime Wednesday, but have been unable to locate him since they woke up Thursday morning.
Police said they were still investigating the circumstances surrounding his disappearance, but noted an Amber Alert has not been issued because officers are "unable to confirm an abduction occurred."
Federal authorities quickly joined the hunt for the missing boy Thursday afternoon.
The child is about 3 feet, 5 inches tall, weighs roughly 70 pounds and has short, blonde hair. He was last seen wearing a blue Mario sweatshirt and black sweatpants.
Anyone who may have information on his whereabouts is being asked to call (815) 356-3620. They can also text information along with the word CLPDTIP to 847411.
