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Avenger
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Publish Date: 5/31/2006
Missing boy found alive, uninjured
Debbie Bell
The Daily Record
An 8-year-old Lakewood boy, who was missing for four days, was found completely fine and uninjured by elated search teams Tuesday afternoon in the rugged mountains north of Cañon City at the same time his aunt was giving a press conference.
Evan Thompson was found at about 4:20 p.m. by an all-terrain vehicle team in an area known as Hole in the Rock Gulch, about five miles northwest of the campsite where he was last seen. A woman in the area had reported hearing a crying child in the area about an hour before the boy was found.
A civilian reported hearing the cries, said incident public information officer Zak ****zky of Western State Mountain Rescue, Gunnison. It was a recreationist in the area.
Little more than an hour later, searchers found Evan. He was evacuated from the rescue area, given pizza and soda and reportedly taken by a Fremont County Sheriffs Office vehicle to be examined at St. Thomas More Hospital.
He is fine, uninjured and doing well, ****zky said following Evans rescue. I imagine he probably needs some food, water and a good nights sleep in a bed.
Teddi Gray of Lakewood, the boys aunt and legal guardian, had spent most of Tuesday calling for Evan over a loudspeaker system.
I was telling him hes not in trouble, and were ready to take him for hot dogs, pickles and a raspberry Slurpee, Gray said before Evan was found.
Searchers were concerned the boy had been told to stay away from strangers and might believe he was in trouble, causing him to hide from the very people who were trying to rescue him.
After he was found and reunited with his aunt, Evan kept close to Gray while she thanked searchers for the safe return of her nephew.
The support we received was amazing, Gray said. We are overjoyed overwhelmed to have Evan safe and back in our arms and in our hearts.
Gray seemed reluctant to let go of Evan. She held him tight as he shyly greeted a wall of reporters and cameras wearing a red hoodie sweatshirt, blue jeans and Spider-man tennis shoes.
It was those tennis shoes that had given hope to more than 90 rescuers in the four days following Evans disappearance. Trackers found distinctive web footprints believed to belong to Evan, leading searchers to think he was still in the area.
Evan, who has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other mental disorders, disappeared early Saturday morning while camping with an unidentified teacher and family friends in rugged country near Shelf Road. The story of the missing boy and his eventual rescue made national head-lines.
The weather had been warm despite gusty winds, overcast skies and light showers Tuesday afternoon, and searchers said the boys clothing provided him adequate protection. He had eaten a breakfast of Lucky Charms cereal, an orange and a glass of milk before his disappearance Saturday morning.
Searchers combed the area utilizing four dog teams, horses, ATV vehicles, a fixed-wing airplane and two helicopters. The search area had been expanded Tuesday morning from the original nine square miles to an area 15 square miles in size.
****zky said the search was hampered by hazardous terrain. One searcher suffered minor injuries Tuesday when the edge of a steep hillside gave way and he slid about 10 feet.
This is very conducive for a child to be able to hide, ****zky said before Evan was found. We will literally look in every nook and cranny.
And in every remote canyon, where searchers rescued the boy in answer to his aunts prayers.
http://www.canoncitydailyrecord.com/Top-Story.asp?ID=3809
