A heartbroken mother is pleading for the safe return of her 13-year-old son, Elijah Gumbus, who has been missing for over a month after vanishing from a car wash in Maricopa County, Arizona.
Elijah, unfamiliar with the area, disappeared on Aug. 31, leaving his mother in deep distress as local authorities intensify their efforts to locate him.
Surveillance footage from Weiss Guys Car Wash shows the chilling moments before Elijah’s disappearance. The video captures Elijah, dressed in a red shirt, stepping out of his mother’s car and jogging away as his mother frantically calls out his name.
Despite a focused search, authorities have yet to uncover significant leads.
“He could have met someone, taken off, or hidden,” said Lt. Lee Garrett of Tolleson Police, adding that this is the only footage showing the boy’s last known direction of travel.
Elijah’s mother, who was on a work trip from California to Louisiana, stopped at the Arizona car wash during the journey.
It was during this brief pause that her son disappeared. The fact that neither she nor Elijah have connections to Arizona makes the case even more troubling.
As the investigation continues, the mother’s anguish grows.
The police have dedicated a detective solely to this case, with Garrett expressing deep concern:
“We’re extremely concerned. We don’t know how he could have connected with someone or if he simply ran away.”
Police are urging the public to remain vigilant, as Elijah’s young age and unfamiliarity with the area make him particularly vulnerable. Authorities have ruled out the possibility that Elijah is with his parents, as they do not live in Arizona, and custody issues have complicated the case.
In a heartfelt plea, Elijah’s mother is asking for anyone with information to come forward, as she fears for her son’s safety.
If you have information about Elijah’s whereabouts, contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST or Tolleson police at 1-623-936-7186.
