| Updated: 8/17/2012 10:25 pm |
Published: 8/17/2012 10:05 am
|
Relief for a family after their ten-year-old went missing for nearly eight hours. The boy is home safe.
A couple found the boy wandering in a pasture about a mile and half northwest of his home in Rogers County on Friday.
The missing 10-year-old boy, Ian, has special needs. He was last seen at 6:30 am Friday morning near 16250 S. 4100 Road, north of Claremore.
About eight hours after authorities searched for the boy, a couple heard about the search and headed on old Highway 88 near 403 Road.
"I was just looking out there to see if I could see anything at all sticking up,” said Valerie.
Several emergency crews on foot, ATV, horseback and K9’s were out searching for Ian in the thick brush near the river.
Rogers County Emergency Management and Northwest Fire Department headed up the command post.
Crews from Limestone Fire Department, Rogers County Sheriff’s office, Tulsa Police One, Collinsville Fire Department, Verdigris Police, Mayes County Sheriff’s Office, Oologah Police and Oologah-Talala Emergency Medical Services assisted in the search.
Neighbors also volunteered in the search by getting on horseback.
"You help your neighbor. That's just the way it is," said Jerry Husband.
The search stretched two miles from Ian’s home. When a couple heard about the search they jumped in their truck and headed on old Highway 88.
"We set the odometer at a mile and a third," said Floyd Keller.
His fiancée said she looked east and saw the boy had just crossed the fence.
"I was like, 'there! Oh there's a little boy with black boots and a backpack. Just walking,” said Valerie Martin. "I think he got tired of being out there and just decided it was time to come in."
So the couple walked out to Ian in the field.
"I said, ‘what you are doing?’ and he said 'walking,’" said Martin.
She said Ian had company.
"He had a little dog with him. I said, ‘is that your dog?’ And he said, ‘no,’" said Martin.
His mother said Ian left with his camo backpack and possibly had food in it.
"He looked prepared,” said Keller.
He said Ian had his address and wanted to go home.
"He looked really tired. Hot. Then he looked really scared," said Martin.
So on their way to reunite him with authorities and family the couple saw Oologah Police Chief Novale Thompson.
"They flagged me down and said, ‘we have the boy, we have the boy,’" said the Chief. "Oh what a relief."
Mr. Keller said he wasn’t doing any other neighbor wouldn’t do.
“It is anything that anyone should do. If more communities pulled together it would take work off law enforcement," said Keller.
Ian was checked by medical crews and is okay. They believe he just had a sunburn.
