Search for 2-year-old continues one year after disappearance

Tuesday marks the one year anniversary of the disappearance of 2-year-old Sky Metalwala, whose mother claimed he went missing from her car in Bellevue last November 6 while she went to get gas with her other child.

Sky’s mother, Julia Birykova, has refused to cooperate with the police or assist in the search, but she’s never been named a suspect in the case. Sky’s father Solomon remains skeptical of her claims she ran out of gas and left him behind.

“I think her whole story is a bunch of crap. I think her whole story of her running out of gas is a bunch of baloney,” he tells KING 5. “When a person hides, does not do anything, it always leads to the question ‘Why isn’t this person doing what they’re supposed to do?'”

Metalwala’s attorney Clay Terry believes Birykova killed Sky, based on her erratic behavior and unwillingness to cooperate.

“I think this child passed from a lack of care,” Terry says, “more likely negligently than intentionally.”

“No mother would ever leave a child locked up in the seat, with the door open, and take one child and leave the other to get gas,” Terry adds, “Sky was not in the car, that was an absolute lie.”

Bellevue Police continue refusing requests to comment on the status of the investigation.

Solomon says he refuses to give up hope.

“I still believe he is alive. There is no evidence that he’s dead, and I’m a believer.”

Metalwala is planning a public vigil for his son Saturday afternoon at the Redmond Downtown Central Park.