A three-year-old boy who was missing for three days has been found alive and well, and says that he was kept company by a bear as his family breathes a sigh of relief. He had disappeared earlier this week, and although his family called the police almost immediately, he had been missing for more than three days.

Back on Tuesday, three-year-old Casey Hathaway had been playing with his relatives at his great-grandmother's house in Craven County, North Carolina, but didn't come in when everyone else did. After searching for him for around 45 minutes, the family called the police, and a search was immediately underway.

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"He was walking in the woods back there and we can't find him," his great-grandmother said on the phone when she called the 911 dispatcher to explain the situation. "The other ones come through the house but left him there and he walked off somewhere and we can't find him."

Search and rescue teams comprising of the FBI, NCIS, dozens of volunteers and the US Marine Corps all came together to try to find the boy, and the teams needed all the help they could get; heavy rain, gusty wind and extreme cold greeted the authorities, and the weather got so bad they had to turn volunteers away.

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Searching nearly 1,000 acres worth of wooded area around the Craven County location, on Friday, they heard the three-year-old crying for his mother. Following the call around 50 yards through water into the woods, they found Casey tangled up in some vines - extremely cold, but responsive and alive.

"It was folks giving us tips and leads," said Craven County Sheriff Chip Hughes once Casey had been safely found. Due to the "extreme cold", Hughes was worried about the toddler's safety, but against all odds, Casey is safe and sound. "We hit every one of them immediately and it paid off," he said.

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"Casey is healthy, smiling, and talking," said Breanna Hathaway, Casey's aunt, while his mother, Brittany Hathaway, paid tribute to the search parties that had helped to bring her son home, saying that Casey's already in the mood for some Netflix.

"We just want to tell everybody that we're very thankful that you took the time out to come search for Casey and prayed for him, and he's good. He is good, he is up and talking. He's already asked to watch Netflix so he's good."

"The little fella is happy and his parents are very happy as well," added Hughes in a press conference. "When he saw his little sister, [he] had a big smile on his face."

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"We appreciate the thoughts but we do want to recognize that everyone wants to get Casey a stuff little bear and although we absolutely love that remember that he can only home so many," said Brittany on Facebook, revealing that Casey loves Batman, PAW Patrol, and Masha and the Bear, where a young who lives in the forest gets taken care of by a guardian bear.

Hughes says that Casey likely wandered off, and that there was no cause to believe an abduction was involved.

A three-year-old boy has been found alive after going missing for two days.

Casey Hathaway was found caught in a thorn bush in freezing temperatures on Thursday night following a two-day search of a wooded area. Hathaway, who lives in Craven County, North Carolina, was found soaking wet and calling for his mother about a quarter of a mile from where he was last seen.

Police believe that the boy had been moving around in the time he was missing. Search crews say that the boy is in "good health" and doing "very well", only suffering from a few cuts and scratches. The young boy went missing whilst playing in his great-grandmother's backyard, disappearing into the woods behind her house.

Casey had been missing for over 48 hours by the time he was found by officials, with concerns being raised about the rapidly dropping temperature. Casey was only wearing sweatpants and a coat when he disappeared, both of which were soaked through when he was found. He has since been reunited with his mother and sister, who say that he is "up and talking" and already asking about watching Netflix.

Casey was playing with his sister and cousin in his great-grandmother's backyard but he didn't come back in with them. His family searched for 45 minutes in the woodland behind the house before dialing 911.

After explaining that he had been playing with his sister and cousin, she said: "The other ones come through the house but left him there and he walked off somewhere and we can't find him."

After receiving the call, the Sheriff's office launched a search for the 3-year-old involving numerous law enforcement agencies, as well as Marines trained to operate in difficult conditions. Divers were also deployed to search in ponds and sinkholes that litter the woodland behind the house. Hundreds of Craven County locals volunteered to join the search but were turned away by officials due to "challenging weather conditions". The sheriff's office has said that only professional searchers were used because of the safety concerns.

Those who have been following Casey's story have been sharing their relief about his recovery on Twitter:

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Craven County Sheriff, Chip Hughes, said: "the little fella is happy and his parents are very happy as well." Casey's mother, Brittany Hathaway, has thanked the search parties and police officials who helped find and return her little boy.

After a two-day rescue mission, a four-year-old boy has been found alive after he went missing from his home in Montana.

Ryker Webb was reported missing on Friday afternoon after he was last seen playing with the family dog in his house near the east side of Bull Lake in West Montana. A missing-persons report was issued nationwide around 4:53PM after a concerned neighbor called 911, per the Daily Mail.

After an extensive search campaign by rescuers that lasted two days, officers were able to locate Ryker on Sunday, who had been outdoors for two days, according to a news release the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook.

NTD reports that Lincoln County Sheriff Darren Short said the child was discovered by the owner of a cabin near Pine Ridge Road and South Fork Bull River Road in Sanders County, about 2.4 miles from where he went missing.

The owner saw the boy in a shed, which Short suspects Ryker walked into after following a series of abandoned footpaths in the forest.

After the boy was reported missing on Friday, law enforcement officers immediately launched a search campaign, which included several drones, dog teams, and a boat unit.

Lincoln County Sheriff told KREM that the boy's family was distraught throughout the search, adding: "He and his dad were in the yard, the father went inside the home for a moment and when he went back outside, the child was gone.

"We have a very distraught family and a lot of concern over him."

The sheriff's office said the search was particularly challenging because "the dense vegetation in the area proved to be extremely difficult to search".

A news release from the sheriff's office added that the poor weather conditions consisting of "rain, low visibility, and low ceiling" made it "extremely difficult" to deploy extra air resources in the Bull Lake area.

According to the sheriff’s statement, Ryker was rescued on June 5 and was said to be "in good spirits and apparently healthy, although hungry, thirsty, and cold." He was later taken to Cabinet Peaks Medical Center for evaluation.

"Thank you to the many agencies and persons who assisted in this search," the sheriff's office added.

Featured image credit: Lincoln County Sheriff's Office

A toddler was found in the woods with her faithful pets after the little one was declared missing by her family.

Thea Chase, a two-year-old from Michigan, was found hours after she had wandered off from her home in the Faithorn area of Menominee County sleeping on one of the family's pet pups.

State troopers from the Iron Mountain post in the Upper Peninsula were called to the home on Wednesday around 8PM after Thea walked out of her house with no trace as to where she had gone with two of the family's dogs.

A search party, which included drones and K-9s as well as citizens from both Michigan and the Wisconsin area, assisted with looking for the toddler and thankfully, she was found at approximately midnight.

A fellow searcher riding an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) discovered Thea about three miles away sleeping in a wooded area using the smaller dog as a pillow.

On Thursday, State Police Lieutenant Mark Giannunzio described the incident as "remarkable."

"She laid down and used one of the dogs as a pillow, and the other dog laid right next to her and kept her safe," he said. "It’s a really remarkable story."

Lieutenant Giannunzio also told CNN that when the force receives a call of that nature, "everything else stops."

Speaking to WJMN-TV, Thea’s mom, Brooke Chase said that the family started their own search for their missing daughter before calling the authorities for backup.

"I realized she was missing and I’m telling her uncle, and I said, 'Where is she?'", Brooke told the outlet. "We’re searching all around the yard, up and down the roads, screaming at the top of our lungs her name, calling for the dogs because the dogs were missing, too."

She continued: "It’s completely wooded. Deep, thick woods around here. There’s a swamp over there, so of course we’re, like, freaking out. And after about 15 minutes of searching for her with our friends and family, I called the cops.

"I was in such a fog and in such a shock that she was literally gone, in a split second," Brooke added.

Four hours after police were initially notified of Thea's disappearance, a family friend searching for Thea came across the Chase family’s Rottweiler, Buddy, who started barking as he approached.

Hartley, the family’s English Springer was too busy providing a place for the little one's to rest her head to notice the sudden intrusion.

"She has those dogs wrapped around her finger," the mom said.

When Thea was returned home on the back of the ATV, the toddler was reportedly giggling and saying: "Hi Mommy," Brooke told CNN, and of course, the family were all relieved to be reunited once again.

After careful medical examinations, it was confirmed that Thea remained unharmed and appeared to be in good health, as per Lieutenant Giannunzio. The outdoor temperature was about 60 degrees when the toddler was found, reported CNN.

We're glad Thea and her faithful friends are all back home safe and sound.

Featured Image Credit: Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty

Authorities have confirmed a disturbing discovery made during the search for Johnathan Boley, a 4-year-old boy from Alabama who went missing on New Year's Eve.

While the search efforts were intensifying, officers found items inside the home of Johnathan's father, Jameson Kyle Boley, that made the situation more complicated, The US Sun reports.

The chilling discovery involved suspected explosives, forcing the authorities to pause their search temporarily. This unexpected development added complexity to an already challenging case.

Johnathan was last seen at his father's house around 11:30 AM on New Year's Eve. An hour and a half later, the search expanded to include the property, where authorities uncovered potential explosive devices.

The body of 4-year-old Johnathan Boley was found last Friday. Credit: Facebook

Sheriff Nick Smith confirmed that these items, which were not fireworks, were serious enough to halt the search operation.

According to Smith, “The lifestyle that was taking place in the home with explosive devices and things of that nature obviously created challenges, challenges that we obviously weren’t ready to see, so it was much more than just blazing through the woods looking for a child, it presented challenges.”

The discovery of explosives at the home

The search for the missing boy took a darker turn when explosives were found inside the house. Authorities later revealed that the amount of materials discovered could have caused significant harm if detonated.

However, no live explosives were found outside the property. Smith also noted that neighbors reported hearing explosions in the area prior to the discovery. While the search was delayed, video footage showed officers safely deactivating the devices.

The boy’s father, Jameson Boley, is being held in the Blount County Jail. Credit: Blount County Jail

Despite these challenges, volunteers, K9 teams, and other law enforcement agencies continued their search for the missing child.

Johnathan was eventually found on January 2 by a group of volunteers. His loyal dog, Buck, was standing by his side when his body was discovered in a creek-like area, partially submerged.

The volunteers, who had been involved in the search for hours, were visibly shaken by the discovery. Sheriff Smith described their reaction, saying, “You know, obviously you come out to do a good deed and when you get out there, you may have thought that you have fully prepared yourself for what you might come across.”

Charges against Johnathan's father

Following the discovery, Jameson Boley was charged with unlawfully manufacturing a destructive device or biological weapon. He also faces two counts of chemical endangerment of a child related to the presence of methamphetamines at his property. These charges are not related to Johnathan’s death, and authorities continue to investigate the cause of the child's passing. Johnathan's mother, who now lives in Florida, has since traveled to Alabama to cooperate with the investigation.

Johnathan's tragic death has left a community in shock, and questions remain regarding the circumstances surrounding both his disappearance and the discovery at his father’s home.

Featured image credit: Facebook

A 14-year-old boy from Georgia, who was featured on Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries after disappearing seven years ago, has been found safe in Colorado.

Abdul Aziz Khan vanished from his Atlanta home on November 27, 2017, when he was just seven years old. Authorities had long suspected his mother, Rabia Khalid, of abducting him after she failed to appear for a scheduled custody hearing that same day, the Daily Mail reports.

The breakthrough in the case came on February 23, 2025, when deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office in Colorado responded to a burglary in progress in Highlands Ranch.

Upon arrival, they found Khalid, 40, and her husband, Elliot Blake Bourgeois, 42, inside a home listed for sale. The couple initially claimed they were associated with the realtors, but deputies quickly noticed inconsistencies in their story.

As officers investigated further, they discovered two children in a vehicle parked outside the home. One of them was identified as Abdul Aziz Khan, marking the end of a years-long search.

Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly commended his deputies for their efforts, stating, “Their ability to recognize the discrepancies in the suspects' story and to follow the leads, even when the situation seemed unclear, ultimately led to the safe recovery of a child who had been missing for seven years.”

Aziz’s family, who had never given up hope, expressed their overwhelming relief upon learning he was safe. In a statement, they said, “We’re overwhelmed with joy that Aziz has been found and is finally coming home.”

Both children discovered at the scene were placed in protective custody while authorities worked to determine their future care.

Khalid and Bourgeois were arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including second-degree kidnapping, forgery, and identity theft. They are currently being held on a $1 million bond each and are set to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on March 27, 2025.

This case highlights the crucial role media attention can play in missing persons investigations. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children emphasized how difficult it can be to garner public attention for family abduction cases but noted that national media coverage was instrumental in keeping Aziz’s case in the public eye.

Law enforcement officials praised the collaborative efforts that led to the teen’s safe recovery, ensuring that a years-long mystery has finally come to a close.

Featured image credit: Douglas County Sheriff's Office