March 4, 2024

Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office deputies returned an autistic child to her parents in Dewey last weekend, after the girl wandered from home.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, on February 24th a resident reported that the 7-year-old, who is non-verbal, had come to her home; but the caller did not know the child, or where she lived.

Deputies began knocking doors in the neighborhood, and found the girl’s house. Her parents said the child likes to escape from the home; and although they regularly bolt their doors and windows, she found a window that was not completely secure, and got out.

The following day, YCSO search teams found a missing elderly man in the Ash Fork area.

The 72-year-old’s nephew said his uncle often wanders around his 20-acre property, but had been gone for 5 hours. Deputies checked the property, surrounding area and local businesses, then called for a search and rescue team, forest patrol, a drone and a helicopter.

Searchers found cigarette butts outside the home’s main gate and, knowing the man smokes, they followed that trail and found him in good condition a couple of miles away.

Josh Freeman | KAZM News Director | josh@mellowmountainradio.com