A 22-month-old boy in Kentucky who was reported missing Sunday night was found alive in rugged terrain near his home, authorities announced Wednesday.
A search team with an expert tracker reportedly used a basket and rope to rescue Kenneth Howard from the bottom of a 50-foot incline. WKYT reported that the toddler’s cries alerted searchers to his whereabouts.
Howard was reportedly discovered at an old strip mine located approximately 1,755 feet away from his Salyersville home. A Facebook post from the Magoffin County Sheriff’s Office stated that Howard was dehydrated but is in “remarkably good condition.”
The toddler’s safe discovery comes after relatives told WYMT that Howard could’ve walked out the back door. The boy’s father, Elden Howard, said Tuesday that he’s unsure what happened to his son but it’s possible that somebody “picked him up.”
At the time, Elden revealed he was offering a $5,000 reward for his son’s safe return. On Tuesday, rescue crews had reportedly expanded their search into Floyd County.
WKYT reported that the toddler was transported to a command center and then to a hospital for evaluation.
[Featured image: Kenneth Howard/Magoffin County Sheriff’s Office]
