Missing 6-Year-Old Found Safe After Extensive Search in Kentucky

A 6-year-old boy named Roman Heilman was found safe after being missing for two days in the rural area of eastern Kentucky. The search, which began earlier in the week, involved hundreds of volunteers including specialized units and rescue crews from Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ohio.

Heilman, who has autism, was last seen on Sunday afternoon near his home in Louisa. He was wearing a green plaid jacket and Crocs at the time. The details of how he initially went missing are unclear, as is who reported him missing. According to Travis Hughes, the Lawrence County emergency management director, Heilman was known to often play outside and explore the nearby woods.

Over 300 individuals participated in the search, some on foot and horseback, while helicopters and drones scanned the area from the air. They searched through the heavily wooded terrain and eventually found a muddy footprint and some of Heilman’s clothing, including a jacket, pants, and a diaper.

Hughes expressed concern over the weather as rain was expected. The searchers were urged to sing one of Heilman’s favorite songs, “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” in hopes of drawing him out. On Tuesday morning, about a mile and a half away from his home, Heilman was spotted emerging from the woods with his dog. He was naked and bore scratches but was otherwise unhurt. Hughes noted that the dog appeared to have stayed with him during the ordeal.

Upon being found, Heilman, together with his dog, was wrapped in a blanket and fed by the rescue team. He was later taken to a hospital in the area for recovery, where he was treated for dehydration. Hughes commended the rescue effort on social media, noting that the response was so overwhelming that extra volunteers were asked to hold off due to the abundance of assistance.