Multiple agencies search for answers and clues concerning missing 11-year-old Massachusetts boy

Multiple agencies have returned to the Connecticut River today to continue searching for missing 11-year-old boy Aiden Blanchard. MSP Dive Team and Marine Unit and partner agencies are running sonar and a remotely operated camera, with divers standing by if evidence is located.

Aiden was last seen Friday, February 5, 2021 at approximately 11:30 a.m. as he was walking in the Willamansett area of Chicopee, near Old Field Road, and was believed to be heading in the direction of the Medina Street boat launch along the Connecticut River. Aiden is 5’ tall, 100 lbs., with brown hair and blue eyes, and was last seen wearing a red ski jacket and black ski pants.

Local police, Massachusetts State Police, and Environmental Police have previously searched the Connecticut and Chicopee Rivers and the surrounding land on numerous days using officers, K9s, divers, boats, drones, and the MSP Air Wing.

All evidence known thus far suggests Aiden was alone and near the river when he went missing. Aiden was last known to be in the area of the Medina Street boat ramp. Based on the information currently known to detectives, no foul play is suspected at this time. All leads continue to be investigated by Chicopee Police detectives and the State Police Detective Unit for Hampden County.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) has created a missing person poster for Aiden. Anyone who has information that may help locate Aiden, or who believes they may have seen him, should immediately call 911, Chicopee Police at 413-594-1639, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST.