Missing teen day 3: Police scuba team may search Genesee River for Trevyan Rowe

Family members, numerous volunteers and police continued their search Saturday for Trevyan Rowe, and they vow to continue Sunday.

Trevyan, 14, has autism and has been missing since Thursday.

Hundreds of volunteers showed up at the Al Sigl Center on Elmwood Avenue Saturday to assist in the search. The volunteer search ended at 4:30 p.m.

March 11: School district confirms it did not contact mother about missing teen

March 9: Search for missing city teen Trevyan Rowe continues; police ask public for help

March 8: MISSING TEEN: Search ongoing for autistic teen missing since ThursdayThe Rochester Police Department's scuba team will "assess portions of the Genesee River to determine if it is safe and practical to conduct a search of possible areas where 911 callers possibly observed someone matching Treyvan's description," Rochester Police Deputy Chief Mark Simmons said Saturday night at a press briefing.

Adult volunteers are asked to congregate at the Al Sigl building, door 5, from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday. Volunteers will hand out flyers in high-traffic areas, but they will not participate in the grid searches.

It's been more than two days since the Trevyan traveled to School 12 by bus at 999 South Ave., but never entered the building, according to Rochester police. He was seen on surveillance footage at 7:30 a.m. heading down South Avenue.

He did not return home. Police were called about 5:30 p.m. Thursday with news of Trevyan's disappearance.

Rachel Rosner, director of education and support services for Autism Up, is helping coordinate the volunteer search. The search radius was expanded Saturday and was based on tips and sightings reported.

"Before you approach him call 911, and tell them where you are. If you can't get to him, follow him," said Rosner, instructing volunteers before the search.

Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren sounded solemn but tried to remain hopeful when addressing the media Saturday night. She said every location in and around the school has been searched at least three times. Warren added that the hundreds of volunteers helped police search an area that would normally take them weeks to look.

"We are well aware of the weather conditions and the likelihood of survival if Trevyan is not currently in a safe, dry, and warm location," Warren said.

An automated emergency call went out to those in Rochester on Saturday, urging community members to check their backyards, sheds, garages, and other spaces where Trevyan might be.

"We have a heavy burden ahead of us," Warren said. "Any information that the community can provide will help."

Kathi Flinn of Brighton set out early Saturday morning with her daughter and a friend to search for Trevyan. After struggling to manage Highland Park’s terrain, she sat down for a while, yelling his name and asking him to come home.

“This is a child of God,” Flinn said. “We want him safe and back with his family.”

"He's never done something like this before," said Trevyan's cousin Detoya McCoy of Rochester. "We think a trigger that set this off was him losing his cellphone."

McCoy said it appeared that Trevyan lost his phone on the way to school and with it missing, became upset and did not follow his normal routine.

"Instead of going into the school, he turned right going down South Avenue and started walking," she said, citing surveillance video in the area.

Trevyan traveled to school on Thursday with his younger sister, who did not immediately notice her brother veer off course.

Trevyan was last seen wearing was a black Nautica coat with a fur collar, jeans and red sneakers. He weighs about 140 pounds. A missing persons report listed his height at 5 feet, 6 inches tall, but according to a family member at a news conference Friday he is about 5-10.

Police did not issue an Amber Alert for Trevyan because they do not believe that he has been abducted.

McCoy said police informed the family around 5:15 p.m. Thursday that they received a 911 call from a child saying he was lost in the cemetery. The identity of the child was not confirmed. Rochester police on Thursday evening searched nearby Mt. Hope Cemetery. They returnined to search the 196-acre cemetery at Mount Hope and Elmwood avenues in Rochester on Friday morning.

"If anyone approaches him just say that he's not in trouble or anything, just say that your mom or your aunt, want you to come home, we love you and we just want you to come home," said Velma Handy, Trevyan's aunt.

WCLEVELAND@Gannett.com