Kentucky Search Teams Find Missing Autistic Boy After Two Days

A two-day search across the rugged mountains of eastern Kentucky ended with the safe recovery of six-year-old Roman Heilman, an autistic boy who disappeared from his home in Louisa on November 1. Hundreds of volunteers, police officers, military personnel and horseback riders participated in the operation before finding him approximately 1.5 miles from home on Tuesday morning.

Heilman was discovered emerging from thick vegetation alongside a small dog. He was naked and had scratches across his body, but rescuers provided him with food, water and a blanket before transporting him from the mountainous area. Authorities later confirmed that he was recovering from dehydration at a local hospital.

The search involved more than 300 volunteers, specialized Kentucky State Police units, the Kentucky National Guard and search-and-rescue personnel from West Virginia and Ohio. Helicopters and drones also surveyed the heavily wooded landscape while ground teams searched difficult terrain.

Travis Hughes, Lawrence County's emergency management director, said the situation became increasingly urgent after officials learned that the child had removed his clothing and was exposed to changing weather conditions.

"We knew this child was without clothes and we knew there was weather moving in, raining. So we wanted to put our horseback teams in there with the ground searchers," Hughes told CBS News.

Searchers discovered a muddy footprint that led them to several items of the boy's clothing, including his jacket, pants and diaper. Volunteers also attempted to attract his attention by singing one of his favorite songs, If You're Happy and You Know It.

Hughes described the moment rescuers finally encountered the child, who appeared from the vegetation behind his dog.

"He comes out right behind his dog and that's when he pointed and said, 'E-I-E-I O,' and pointed to the horses," Hughes said.

He added that rescuers immediately provided basic assistance after making contact with the boy.

"we had to ask additional volunteers to hold off while we organized the resources we already had," Hughes said in a social media post, describing the overwhelming community response.

Local horse riders also played a significant role in locating Heilman. Jacob Mullins, a Louisa resident who participated in the search, said he joined other riders after receiving a message from his friend Patrick Finley on Monday night.

"Let's take off work and go find this kid," Finley texted Mullins.

Mullins said the group decided to participate despite having to leave their regular jobs.

"So that's what we did," Mullins said.

Approximately 10 horseback riders searched the mountains before daylight on Tuesday. Their group covered more than 14 miles of trails before encountering the boy near his home.

Mullins described the condition of the child when he appeared along a horse trail.

"There was about 10 of us. We were all on horses in the woods before daylight. And we rode the horses a total of 14- plus miles, trekking around trying to find him.

We found him probably about a mile and a half from his house. He came out of the bushes saying 'E-I-E-I-O horsey.' He just walked right out of the bushes over onto a horse trail," Mullins told the Lexington Herald-Leader.

The boy had visible scratches from moving through the vegetation, while his dog remained beside him.

"He was naked and he was scratched and he had a little dog with him. He ate a banana and drank some water and then we brought him off the hill," Mullins said.

The riders had brought food and water with them during the operation. They used a sweatshirt to keep the child warm while preparing to transport him down the mountain.

"We wrapped him up in a sweatshirt, put him on the horse and started bringing him off the mountain," Mullins said.

He also described the boy's apparent condition following the rescue.

"He was fine," Mullins said.

Mullins said the child was subsequently placed in an ambulance for medical evaluation.

"When I left, he was in the ambulance. He was, supposedly in good shape, just a little dehydrated," he said.

Footprints and muddy areas provided additional indications of the route the child had taken through the mountains.

"It looks like he was just traveling the mountaintops, really. You can see his footprints where he played in a mud hole," Mullins said.

He also offered his assessment of how different search methods may have affected the operation.

"looking for Roman in the mountain range were scaring him," Mullins said, referring to the noise from motorized search vehicles.

He believed the horseback teams were particularly important in reaching the child.

"And I think without the horses, he wouldn't have come out," Mullins said.

Another participant, Sami Jo Brock, described the difficult conditions encountered by the horseback search teams in a Facebook post.

"We rode some of the toughest terrain. Rocks, ledges, cliffs, revenges, & mountainside that would make most people just turn around & go back. BUT all of our horses didn't fail, instead they buckled down, dug & went whatever direction we pointed them," Brock wrote.

She also described the personal significance of participating in the operation.

"THIS situation has absolutely grown my faith beyond what I can comprehend & shown me what hitting your knees & praying the most sincere prayers (even if it is in the woods hugged up to a tree) will do," Brock wrote.

The Lawrence County Emergency Management office said the disappearance immediately triggered an extensive response because of the child's age and vulnerability. Officials also emphasized the danger posed by his exposure to the elements.

"When we first received the call Sunday afternoon about a missing six-year-old autistic child, we knew we had a very serious situation on our hands. Our number one priority from the very beginning was finding that little boy and bringing him home safely," the agency said in a Facebook statement.

The agency explained that information about the child's missing clothing increased concerns as the search continued.

"As the search continued, we knew time was not on our side. We had received information that the child had removed his clothing at some point, which made the situation even more concerning, especially with the possibility of exposure to the elements. Every minute mattered, and we knew we needed every available resource we could get," the statement continued.

The agency credited the coordinated response with bringing the operation to a successful end.

"What happened over the course of this search was nothing short of a miracle, and I praise God for that," the agency added.

Lawrence County Schools Superintendent Katie Webb also acknowledged the efforts of the participating agencies and community members.

"Today I got to see a miracle," Webb said.

She praised the extensive cooperation that made the recovery possible.

"Thankful for all of the agencies and people who made finding Roman happen. I can't say enough good things about the work I saw go on over the last 3 days," Webb said.

The Kentucky State Police had issued an IAN Alert after Heilman disappeared. The alert system is used when children under 18 with autism or mental illness go missing and may face danger.

Police confirmed the boy's recovery on Tuesday and thanked local, state and federal agencies alongside the hundreds of volunteers who supported the search. As of Wednesday, Heilman remained under medical care for dehydration.