WALTON COUNTY, Fla. – A missing 4-year-old boy was found safe walking through a Walton County neighborhood with his family’s dachshund after he slipped out of his home while his family was sleeping, according to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office.
The boy, who is autistic, nonverbal and has epilepsy, was located Saturday after two people spotted him and flagged down deputies.
The child’s mother was at work when she learned her son had gotten out of the house. She told the Sheriff’s Office that the possibility of him wandering away unnoticed had long been one of her biggest fears.
Investigators said the boy managed to unlock the front door and leave the home with the family’s dog while others in the house were asleep.
Four Walton County deputies responded to the search.
Two Good Samaritans eventually spotted the child walking through the neighborhood with the dachshund still beside him and alerted deputies. The deputies made sure the boy was safe and returned him to his father.
The Sheriff’s Office said the child’s enrollment in two programs designed to protect people who may wander or have difficulty communicating also helped deputies identify him and reunite him with his family.
The boy had recently been enrolled in the agency’s SAFE Program and Project Lifesaver. According to the Sheriff’s Office, alerts associated with the programs and the child’s bracelet helped identify him and get him home quickly.
Project Lifesaver is designed for people who may be prone to wandering, while the Walton County SAFE Program provides law enforcement with information that can help officers identify and assist participating individuals during an emergency.
The boy’s mother gave the Sheriff’s Office permission to share his story and expressed gratitude to the deputies and the residents who helped get him home.