Teen falls to death down trash chute in Gold Coast

(MCT) — A 16-year-old boy with autism and Down syndrome fell to his death down a trash chute at a Gold Coast highrise, authorities said this morning.

The boy's parents discovered him missing from their home in the 48-story building in the 1500 block of North Astor Street late Monday, officials said.

After searching the building and contacting police, the boy's body was discovered inside the building's trash compactor just after 11 p.m.

The boy -- identified by the Cook County medical examiner's office as Charlie Manley -- was dead at the scene. Investigators were still trying to piece together exactly how the teen got there, said Officer Ron Gaines, a police spokesman.

Authorities weren't sure which floor the boy was on when he fell down the chute, officials said.

Police were conducting a death investigation as detectives awaited results of an autopsy later today, Gaines said.