Account
Apr 15, 2010
May 26, 2023
Avery
Blakeley
17
2
32 inches
27 lbs
White / Caucasian
Male
In the small town of Malden, Washington, on March 26, 2009, two-year-old Avery Blakeley vanished without a trace. The young boy, who was of biracial, White and Hispanic, descent, was last seen playing in his aunt's yard around 12:30 p.m. At the time of his disappearance, his mother and aunt were occupied with moving items out of a trailer home on the property. Avery was wearing gray sweatpants and a blue sweatshirt with red sleeves when he was last seen. The abruptness of his disappearance from what should have been a safe, familiar environment sent a wave of alarm and heartbreak through his family and the local community. The circumstances surrounding his vanishing were immediately unclear, leaving his loved ones in a state of desperate uncertainty. The investigation into Avery's disappearance began swiftly, with authorities focusing their attention on the nearby Pine Creek, which ran adjacent to his aunt's property. This theory was bolstered by the discovery of one of Avery's slippers on the bank of the creek. Despite this finding, there was no other sign of the young boy. Authorities have stated that they do not suspect foul play in his disappearance. An extensive two-day search was launched, involving law enforcement and over 100 volunteers who combed the creek and its banks on foot, with dogs, on ATVs, and on horseback. However, the search was hampered by the fast-moving, murky water of the creek. The perilous conditions, which even caused a search canoe to capsize, ultimately led the Whitman County Sheriff's Office to officially suspend the search effort, though they encouraged family and friends to continue searching with extreme caution. In the weeks and years that have followed, the case of Avery Blakeley has remained open, though the initial belief that he drowned in Pine Creek persists. His body has never been recovered, which has left his family grappling with a profound sense of loss and a lack of closure. The community rallied around the Blakeley family, organizing a memorial fundraising auction to help with expenses and to support their continued private search efforts. Despite the passage of time, Avery is still officially classified as a missing child. The case serves as a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly a child can disappear and the enduring pain that follows for those left behind. The official investigation, led by the Whitman County Sheriff's Office, remains open, holding out hope for a resolution that might one day bring answers to Avery's family.
Mar 26, 2009
Malden
Washington
Whitman County
99170
No
26420
Whitman County Sheriff's Office
Colfax
Washington
Whitman County
99111
411 North Mill Street, Washington
5093976266
County
Law Enforcement
09-S0761
Whitman County Sheriff's Office
Brown
Brown
Brown
No
06/20/2026
