DES MOINES, Iowa -- Police said they hope a photograph of a gagged and bound boy will open new leads into the fate of Johnny Gosch -- a 12-year-old who disappeared 24 years ago while delivering newspapers in West Des Moines.

The boy has not been seen since September 1982 -- but his mother said she believes two photographs she received this week from an unknown source may yield some clues about his abductor.

Noreen Gosch has told authorities she believes the pictures are of her son shortly after he was abducted. The boy in the photos appears to have his mouth gagged, his hands and feet bound and is wearing sweatpants like those her son was wearing the day his abduction. One photo shows only Johnny, while the other shows him and two other bound and gagged boys. The National Center for Missing Children is examining the other boys in the photograph and trying to match it with its database of missing children.

Police said they are investigating where the photos came from and whether they were doctored.

The boy's mother said she believes her son was taken by child pornographers. She has told authorities her son briefly contacted her in 1997 but feared for his life and declined to give details about where or how he could be contacted.

The National Center for Missing Children is examining the other boys in the photograph and trying to match it with its database of missing children.