Police Say Mom 'Holds the Key' to Finding Sky Metalwala

Investigators searching for Sky Metalwala are continuing to operate their investigation under the premise that the missing 2-year-old is still alive and has not left the immediate area.

"We don't have any evidence to believe that Sky is anywhere else than either near the apartment where he lived or in the area where he was left in the car," Bellevue Police Maj. Mike Johnson said during a Thursday morning press briefing on the investigation.

Johnson added that investigators are "absolutely" working under the premise that Sky is still alive.

Sky's mother, Julia Biryukova of Redmond, on Sunday morning. Biryukova, 30, told police she was on her way to Overlake Hospital Medical Center in Bellevue with Sky, who was feeling ill, when she ran out of gas on 112th Avenue Northeast in Bellevue.

On Wednesday, police  in Biryukova's car.

During Thursday morning's briefing, Johnson acknowledged investigators are walking a "fine line" between letting too much time pass in the investigation and putting more pressure on Biryukova, who still has not agreed to take a voluntary polygraph test.

"Our priority is to find Sky, to find out what happened to him (and) whether he's OK or not," Johnson said. "We believe Julia holds the key to that, and we would really like that help."

Johnson said investigators will likely request another direct interview with Biryukova at some point in the near future. He said Wednesday that the only communication she has had with police since Sunday has been through her attorney, Veronica Freitas.

Johnson also acknowledged Thursday that investigators were looking into an unconfirmed report that Biryukova had used sedatives in the past to help Sky sleep. Biryukova and Sky's father, Solomon Metalwala of Kirkland, are in the midst of a bitter divorce, and court documents show both parents have accused the other of posing a threat to their two small children.

Investigators plan to continue their examination of Biryukova's vehicle Thursday. Another media briefing is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.; check back with Patch later today for more details.

Click here for an archive of Patch's coverage of Sky Metalwala's disappearance.

Sky Elijah Metalwala

Age 2, 2’10” tall, 39 pounds, black hair, brown eyes.

Sky was last seen on Nov. 6, 2011, in the 2600 block of 112th Ave. N.E., Bellevue, Wash.

He was last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, black and aqua blue sweatpants and white socks.

Sky was in the silver 1998 Acura Integra three door coupe pictured when he disappeared.

Police ask anyone who was traveling Sunday morning along 112th Avenue Northeast, between State Route-520 and Northeast 24th Street, to please call the Bellevue Police Tip line at 425-452-2564.