Parents of Original Milk Carton Child Give Up Hope. The boy whose disappearance sparked national awareness of missing children has never been found. His father is declaring him legally dead in order to proceed with a civil suit against the man they believe is reponsible for his death. His mother won’t sign the documents that ask he be declared dead, but she’s not opposing the action. The father is, most certainly, propelled by the chance to seek some form of justice, or he very likely wouldn’t want to sign either. A NY Times article on the subject.