SELMA, Texas — Update: Aiden has been found since this story aired. Selma police said he is safe and reunited with his parents.
---
A desperate search continues for a local teenager with autism. Aiden Heidenreich was last seen in the Selma area last Friday morning.
Aiden's Father Michael Heidenreich said it is has been tough for the family.
"It hurts," he said. "You just feel helpless."
He said that morning the family checked the bus stop and the school.
"We ran to the bus stop saw all the people down there, nobody said they knew anything," the father added.
Michael said Aiden walked out of the home, and they haven't seen the 17-year-old since.
"This is one of the most challenging things," he said.
Live Oak Police, family, and search groups have been searching for Aiden. He said the family is thankful for the support.
"I thought I was going to be out there alone," Michael said.
They say Aiden took a bag, and his orange Mongoose bike.
"We have no good sightings of the bike or his bag," he said.
He said there have been leads, but nothing concrete.
"You know kids on the spectrum they can be on a routine, and he is definitely on a routine," the dad said. "He is very intelligent. He is smart."
Bottom line, this father is hoping his son will walk through that door.
"It is hard to just know that he is not safe," he said. "That's all we care about right now. We want him to be safe. We want him to be at home. Whatever he is going through right now, we just want to help him work through it."
The family and two groups plan to search again on Tuesday.
He is 5'9", weighs approximately 137 pounds, has brown eyes and brown hair with a short/military style haircut.
If you have information on Aiden's whereabouts, call or text 805-291-3837 or 805-717-7534.