UPDATE: Robert Falcon and a friend are offering a $5,000 reward for anyone that can come forward with information leading to the arrest of the individual(s) that hit and killed a three-year-old boy in East Austin.
Contact APD with any information that could help this investigation.
A Central Texas funeral director has written a powerful message on social media to the person who hit and killed a 3-year-old boy in East Austin. This after he had to help the family lay the little boy to rest, something he said should have never had to happen
Robert Falcon owns "Affordable Burial and Cremation Service" he said it was a picture of Ethan Maldonado at his funeral that sparked a very powerful emotion in him to help those Ethan left behind. "We shouldn't have had to been there, we shouldn't have had to been in a church, there shouldn't have had to been a 3-year-old boy laying in a casket, there shouldn't have to have been a mom and dad lamenting and bargaining with God and in pain," he said.
Falcon said caring for a child is one of the most difficult tasks as a funeral director. "Professionally it's something that is a very challenging situation, anytime that you're asked to do that," he said.
Ethan was hit and killed while crossing the street in East Austin Sunday, the 22nd of May. The driver has yet to be found. "When I got back in from the funeral it was a very emotional day, it was a very difficult day." Falcon said knowing the family still wants answers as to who killed Ethan, his focus shifted. "You know who you are, you know what you did," he said.
Falcon sent a powerful message to the suspect on Facebook saying in part "I spent most of the night Monday and Tuesday morning getting this child ready for his mother and father to see him in a casket because of you. I want you to see these pictures, and I want you to know how much it pains me to know that you would run over a child and not stop to render aid." With the support of the family, pictures of Ethan in the casket were attached to the post. "I want that person to see the reality of what they created, it was not a pretty situation, and it wasn't intended to be pretty at all," Falcon said,
The post has since gone viral with many wanting to help this family get some kind of closure. "Once they're found and face the consequences of what they did, then there will be justice for a little boy that's laying in cemetery in South Austin," Falcon said.
Police believe the truck that hit Ethan Sunday evening, along Cameron Road is an early 2000's model Chevy Silverado 2500. Pictures of the truck you can see a ladder in the back as well as a cowboy hat sitting on the dashboard.
Friday, APD said they are getting tips and are investigating them but they don't have any new information yet. If you have any information you're asked to contact them.