Authorities have few leads on whereabouts of missing autistic boy

Several law enforcement agencies were frantically searching for a 14-year-old autistic boy who wandered out of the Bob Hope Airport Wednesday and boarded a shuttle.

Cameron James Smith, who is on medication, was scheduled to depart on a 10:30 a.m. Delta Connection flight, according to airport spokesman Victor Gill.

His mother had taken him to the airport to make sure he boarded safely. He was on his way to a specialized school in Salt Lake City, Utah, Gill said.

But after experiencing a mechanical problem, the aircraft had to return to the gate, where the passengers deplaned, Gill said.

Airport security cameras then show Cameron leaving the airport and boarding an parking shuttle in front of the terminal. He then exited the shuttle at the airport’s main entrance at Hollywood Way and Thornton Avenue, Gill said.

No one saw him leave with anyone from there, Gill said.

Airport police were notified of the incident at noon and a search has been underway ever since.

The Burbank and Los Angeles police departments and a Burbank-Glendale Air Support unit were involved in the search.

Cameron is described as white, 5 feet 5 inches tall, 118 pounds with brown hair. He was last seen wearing a light yellow sweatshirt with the initials “C.S.”, light blue jeans and brown penny loafers with no socks.

He was also wearing a necklace with a St. Christopher medal on it, Gill said.

Anyone with information should contact the Burbank Police at (818) 238-3000.

-- Mark Kellam, Times Community News

Twitter: @LAMarkKellam

Photo: Cameron James Smith at Bob Hope Airport on Wednesday October 29, 2011. Credit: Bob Hope Airport