Missing Pawnee County 3-Year-Old Boy Found Safe

Pawnee County deputies say a three-year-old boy is safe and back with his family after wandering off for an hour Friday afternoon.

The boy went missing from his home just outside the town of Westport, off of Highway 412. There were more than 100 people involved in the search, which also included citizens.

Pawnee County deputies said they were concerned about the boy in the hot weather, but he was missing only about an hour, thanks to a nearby neighbor.

“I'm thrilled to have been a part of the happy ending to the story,” Cleveland resident Kate Starr said.

Starr said she was glad she was here at her home at the right time.

"One of my neighbors drove up and said there was a missing boy,” Starr said.

She lives near Valley Road, where Chief Deputy Nick Mahoney said the three-year-old went missing. They say the boy was playing with some friends in the front yard of his home around three o’clock, and that's when the boy wandered off.

While sitting in her living room with some friends, Starr said she was caught by surprise.

"Pointed at the screened-in door at the top of the stairs and said red shirt,” Starr said.

Starr said the boy was right at her front door.

“I said come on in and I am going to give your mom a call,” Starr said.

Starr called 911.

"We had a lovely conversation while we waited for the masses to appear,” Starr said.

"For a missing person this was the greatest outcome we could have,” Chief Deputy Mahoney said.

The family didn't want to speak, but deputies said they are very relieved this search ended so quickly.