Records- Shovel among items police seized from home of missing

ST. LOUIS -- A shovel and pitchfork were among items police seized from the family residence of a missing 9-year-old boy during a search earlier this month, according to police records obtained Friday by television station KSDK-TV.

Police also took a pick, a post-hole digger, clothing, medical supplies and bed clothes during the search Aug. 12 of the Pine Lawn home of Christian Ferguson, who was reported missing in June, and his father, Dawan, according to the records .

Around 6 a.m. on June 11, Dawan Ferguson reported his sport utility vehicle had been stolen with Christian in the back seat. Two hours later, the SUV was recovered about five miles away with Christian missing, but a laptop computer, two cellular phones and other electronic gear still inside.

Christian, who suffers from a rare protein-digestive disorder, has difficulty communicating, managing his personal needs or moving far on his own. Medical experts have said he would not survive much more than a day without his medication.

Ferguson's attorney, John Rogers, has criticized police for scrutinizing his client instead of searching for Christian. Police say they have not identified Dawan Ferguson as a suspect.

Earlier this month, St. Louis police said they had given up hope of finding the boy alive, although they remained actively involved in the case. Investigators from the FBI and St. Louis area police searched a wooded area in Kinloch, a north St. Louis suburb, on Tuesday and Wednesday, but said they did not find anything of note.