Mom begs ‘please bring my baby back’ as authorities search for boy, 14
Mom begs ‘please bring my baby back’ as authorities search for boy, 14, missing from a Texas river after falling off a boat with his friend who was last seen face down in the water
- Conner Curtice, 14, disappeared while boating with a friend in the Neches River, Texas, during a Memorial Day trip on Monday
- His mother Ashlea asks for prayer as they try to find his body in the river
A Texas mom whose teenage son went missing in a river on a boat trip has begged for help to “bring my baby back to me.”
14-year-old Conner Curtice disappeared Monday while boating with a friend on the River Neches on a Memorial Day trip — and a desperate search mission has been launched to find him.
The boy was traveling in a flat-bottomed boat with an 18-year-old friend, and as they were sailing, the ship swerved sharply, throwing them both into the water.
Conner was last seen face down before sliding into the water.
His mother Ashlea asks for prayer as they try to find his body in the river. She wrote online, “GOD…Please bring my baby back to me…PLEASE.”
Conner Curtice, 14, disappeared while boating with a friend in the River Neches on a Memorial Day trip on Monday – and a desperate search mission was quickly launched to find him. His body has still not been found
Ashlea and her missing son Conner (right) along with her two other children
The mother posted an image of the river where her son went missing with the tragic caption
Conner Curtice has been missing since Monday
Captain Ryan Hall, of Texas Parks & Wildlife, said in a statement: “The two friends were in a flat-bottomed boat with a tiller handle.
“They were both in the back of the boat, side by side.
“There is a small plug in the boat with water accumulating in the back.
“The driver, an 18-year-old, allegedly told the 14-year-old to hold the engine while the driver pulled some of the water out.
“The operator reached down and the boat turned sharply as the tiller motor spun. It threw them both into the water.
“The operator was wearing an emergency switch.
He came back up and got back in the boat.
“He saw the 14-year-old lying face down on the water, but he was too far away to reach him quickly. The 14-year-old slipped underwater.”
His mother Ashlea (pictured) asks for prayer as they try to find his body in the river
Mother Ashlea, who misses Conner, and her two other sons Clay and Colby
Locals, family and friends by the river as the search for 14-year-old Conner continues
A desperate search mission was quickly launched to find the teenage boy
Family and friends have taken to social media to pray for Conner.
A friend of the family said, ‘My heart is so heavy and my prayers are lofty! Dear God, please find Conner! Please be with this precious family during this difficult time and be with the search team to help find him!
Another added, “We lift this young man to You, Lord. Let’s flood Texas with prayer.”
Last night, before the search resumed this morning, another family friend said, “The search has been called off now that it is dark. It will resume early tomorrow morning in daylight.
“They’ve closed the ship channel so no boats can get in or out. Please continue to pray for Conner, Ashlea Rae, Josh Curtice, Clay, Colby and all of their families.
“This is parents worst nightmare and my heart breaks for them. Please stop whatever you are doing and pray. Please pray to our God who is greater than anything we could ever encounter. Please, please.’