BRUNSWICK, Ga. -- After more than 24 hours of desperately looking for a 6-year-old boy who has not been seen since Thursday, searchers retired when the sun went down Friday evening.

According to police, Christopher Michael Barrios Jr. was last seen on a swing set in the Canal Mobile Home Park on Horseshoe Lane around 6:15 p.m. When he was not home just after 8 p.m., police were called.

Glynn County police, the Georgia State Patrol, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and other agencies have all been working together in an effort to find the boy.

He was last seen wearing a blue or green long-sleeve shirt with a white T-shirt underneath and long black pants. He was wearing white tennis shoes with a blue stripe on the side with a Velcro closure on top.

He is a Hispanic and black boy with short black hair and brown eyes. He is between 3 feet 6 inches and 4 feet tall and weighs between 60 and 70 pounds.

"Please come home, and I love you," said Christopher's brother. "I hope he comes home. I miss him."

Searchers spent all Thursday night looking for the boy, and Friday morning police helicopters equipped with a heat-sensing device was added to the search crew along with mounted patrols, ATVs and dozens of people are searching on foot.

A toy Christopher was carrying Thursday night was found, but there has been no sign of the boy.

Christopher's father said he and the boy's other family members are holding up hope that the 6-year-old is found safe.

"He's got to be around somewhere. He is going to turn up. You know, I came home from work yesterday to a child missing, and that's very difficult," said Christopher's father.

Although there was no active search for the boy during the overnight hours, some police remained at the scene in case any new information presented itself.

"I'm happy to see everybody who has come out to help and lend a helping hand. He is going to turn up. I know he is," the missing boy's father said.

The search for Christopher is expected to resume between 7 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, when National Guardsmen and more volunteers determined to locate the boy arrive.

The Glynn County Police Department asks anyone who has seen Christopher or can provide further information to call 912-554-7803 or Silent Witness at 912-264-1333.