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57 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, September 19, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 31, 2004 Christopher Missing Medford child may have gone away with mom By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune Police and neighbors continued to search Monday for a 7-year-old Medford boy missing since Sunday. Christopher Aaron Merrill, who lives with his grandparents in the 900 block of La Loma Drive, was believed to be with his mother, who does not have custody of him, police said. Investigators received tips from several people who thought they saw him in Eugene with 26-year-old Amy Fellows Merrill, said Medford police Sgt. Tim Doney. The boy’s disappearance went unnoticed for nearly 10 hours Sunday while his grandparents assumed he went shopping with his uncle. They last saw him asleep at about 10 a.m., just before his grandmother, 60-year-old Trudy Merrill, went out on an errand. The boy was home with his grandfather, whose health problems kept him in bed, police said. Realizing at about 7:30 p.m. that Christopher was missing, the Merrills mobilized their neighbors, who combed the streets and the grounds of a nearby church and Orchard Hill Elementary School, Trudy Merrill said. Search and rescue dogs scoured fields and creeks in the area Monday, Doney said. Police did not send out an Amber Alert in the case because they had no evidence that Christopher was in immediate danger, Doney said. Officers also don’t want to "wear out the system" on cases of custodial interference, which are not unusual, Doney added. Advertisement In the case of child kidnappings, television and radio stations issue Amber Alerts over the regional emergency broadcast system. The boy earlier suffered an assault at the hands of his mother, according to Jackson County Circuit Court records. Amy Merrill was convicted of harassment in the case earlier this year. A charge of third-degree assault — a felony — was dismissed. Amy Merrill is allowed to see Christopher and another son who lives with his grandparents only at the local office of the state’s child welfare department, Trudy Merrill said. If she has the boy, Amy Merrill will face charges of custodial interference, police said. Trudy Merrill said she thinks it likely that Christopher went with his mother because his cat Li’l Buster and his favorite video games were gone. She had heard her daughter was headed to a "spiritual retreat." Christopher and his mother are believed to be traveling with 49-year-old Dirk Leon Friedt in a silver 2000 Toyota Camry with Oregon Crater Lake license plates CL 71837. Christopher has dark blond hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion. He is about 4 feet tall and weighs about 75 pounds. Amy Merrill is described as 5 feet 3 inches tall and 105 pounds, with blond hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact Medford Police Department at 770-4783. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities