GASTONIA, N.C. -- The father of Maddox Ritch, the 6-year-old boy with autism who investigators believe they found dead in a Gaston County creek Thursday, has released a statement on Facebook.

In the statement, Ritch explains that he originally was not worried about finding Maddox and assumed he would be found right off. It wasn't until hours past until he began to lose confidence. 

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He went on to say, "Today I found out I'm not a dad anymore."

Ritch has faced criticism on social media for his demenor during the search for Maddox, which he also adresses in the full statement below.