MISSING BOY FOUND SAFE: Sheriff ‘amazed by the number of people who stepped in’ to help locate missing 2-year-old boy in Tecumseh
Waylon Loftis
Sheriff Cass Martin said that there were many people who showed up to search for 2-year-old Waylon Loftis after the boy went missing, chasing the family’s dog from his home. The boy was found about a mile away from the house, sitting in the woods crying. He was examined by medical personnel and found to be OK.
Two-year-old Waylon Loftis and Ozark County Sheriff Cass Martin were equally excited that the boy was found after going missing in Tecumseh last Friday.
Dora Volunteer Fire Department Cpt. Tiffany Spence was one of the many first responders who showed up to search for 2-year-old Waylon Loftis after he was reported missing. She had this to say: “A missing child is every parent’s worst nightmare. As a volunteer firefighter my heart stops when those calls come, but at the end of that nightmare you get moments like this. A little boy who steals your heart and wants to cuddle with the lady who helped check him over with the ambulance crew to make sure he was okay. I’ll take those cuddles and the tears I shed as he told us what all happened. To his mom and dad, Waylon has a special place in my heart. He is very much loved by this firefighter.”
When the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department announced that 2-year-old Waylon Loftis has wandered away from his Tecumseh home and was missing March 31, people far and wide showed up to see how they could help.
Waylon’s mom, Miranda Loftis, reported that the boy had went missing around 3:30 p.m. that day. Her home is located in the Smoky Road (County Road 551) area, a few miles from where the county road crosses Bridges Creek at a low water crossing. Just a few hours before the child was reported missing, the Bakersfield Volunteer Fire Department posted that the crossing on Smoky Road was impassable due to the high and swift water.
“It was a raging river,” said BVFD Chief Greg Watts, recounting the conditions that day.
After receiving the information about the missing child, both the BVFD and the OCSD made Facebook posts asking for volunteers to help search for the boy. Within a few minutes, people started showing up.
Sheriff Cass Martin said that he was floored by the outpouring of support he and responders were met with.
“That county road was just flooded with people,” he said. “...vehicles, first responders, ambulance, volunteer fire departments and just people wanting to help. There was a slew of people there,” Martin said.
Reports of people as far away as Harrison, Arkansas, and Seymour are said to have responded, doing their part to help locate the boy.
Meanwhile, on Facebook news of the missing child spread far and wide as the Facebook posts were shared thousands of times.
“The outpouring of support and help from so many people was truly incredible, and I can’t thank you enough for everything everyone did to bring a happy ending to this family,” the sheriff posted to Facebook. “The search was a challenging and stressful time for all of us, but I was amazed by the number of people who stepped in to help without hesitation. Volunteers scoured the area. Many community members shared social media posts, organized search parties and kept the family in their thoughts and prayers.”
After several hours of searching just as dusk fell and the darkness of night was upon searches, Bakersfield resident Jonathan Belt heard something that caught his attention.
“The wind calmed down just a little bit, and I heard like a whimper, or definitely in my mind it registered automatically as a kid,” he told KY3 after the incident.
He ran to the sound and he found Waylon sitting on the ground, crying, upset, cold and scared. But thanks for Belt, he’d been found.
There was a collective sigh of relief as the good news spread quickly to area searchers, as well as those online as the sheriff’s department updated their post letting everyone know that Waylon was safe and on his way back to his family.
After being checked out by medical personnel in a nearby ambulance, Waylon came home.
“I want to take a moment to express my deep gratitude to everyone involved in the recent search and rescue effort that eventually resulted in finding missing toddler in Tecumseh,” Martin said. “Thanks to the collective efforts of so many, Waylon was found safe and sound, and we were able to breathe again. It is impossible to put into words how much your kindness, support and unwavering commitment was demonstrated.”
Martin send a particular thank you to the area volunteer fire departments who helped with the search: Tecumseh, Dora, Gainesville, Lick Creek, Caulfield, Bakersfield and Henderson. He also thanked the Ozark County Life Call ambulance service, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the hundreds of community members who showed up to help.
Martin says that Waylon later told officials that the family dog Dixey had gotten out of the house, and he chased after it. The sheriff said that the incident was no fault of Waylon’s parents who had safety devices installed on the doors, but the child navigated the door to get outside.
Waylon’s mom said that she was eternally grateful to those who showed up and helped.
“I’m so grateful for everyone who help search and prayed. I’m so thankful he was found safe. What a blessing this whole community has been to us. I can never repay you all for helping me find my baby safe. I’m so blessed,” she posted on the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department Facebook page.