DNA Shows Washed Up Remains Match Autistic Teen Avonte Oquendo

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) A familys worst fears have been realized.

The remains discovered washed up along the East River in College Point, Queens last week are a match for missing autistic teenage Avonte Oquendo, the medical examiners office said Tuesday afternoon.

The MEs office was still working to determine the cause and manner of death.

Oquendo, 14, was last seen leaving his Long Island City school on Oct. 4. He suffered a severe form of autism and was unable to communicate verbally.

An attorney for Avontes family last week said the remains that were found included the same sneaker and black jeans the teen was seen in before he disappeared.

Remains were first found on Thursday night, including a size five-and-a-half Nike Jordan sneakers and size 16 jeans which are both what Avonte was wearing on the day which he left, David Perecman said.

But, he added, Avontes mother was awaiting DNA test results before jumping to conclusions.

More remains were discovered by NYPD divers over the weekend.

Perecman spoke out on behalf of the Oquendo family Tuesday afternoon, WCBS 880s Alex Silverman reported.

The family attorney said Avontes mother, who had been stoic all along, broke down when she got the news.

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DNA Shows Washed Up Remains Match Autistic Teen Avonte Oquendo