Missing Pott Co. 3-year-old found safe and reunited with family
POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR) — A three-year-old was reunited with his family after being missing for over 14 hours.
According to Pottawatomie Sheriff's Office, Walker Mangus disappeared Thursday evening.
"He was with his father, they came up here to feed the animals and he was outside playing and you know, just a split second not looking and he just disappeared," said Travis Dinwiddie, Undersheriff for Pottawatomie County.
A missing and endangered alert was activated Friday morning.
K9's, drones and volunteers scoured the woods near the family's home outside of Tribbey.
"We did have over 100 responders here on the ground," said Chad Larman, Director of Pottawatomie County Emergency Management.
"One of our fire crews were doing some searching. One of the guys just happened to stumble across him. He was up under a tree," said Dinwiddie.
Police said the toddler was found less than a mile away from his house near Jack Roberts Lane and Canyon Road.
He had no signs of injuries and was surprisingly in good spirits considering the situation.
News 4 was there for the emotional reunion between Walker and his parents.
It was a terrifying situation police said ends with the best outcome of all.
"I don't even know how to put it into words. I was happy, I was very happy to see that he was okay and he was going home with his mom and dad," said Larman.
As a precaution, Walker was taken to get checked out by paramedics but we're told he's doing fine.