Missing Boy Scout Found Alive

Rescue Dog Led Searchers To Boy Stranded 3 Days In N.C. Mountains

(CBS/AP)  A rescue dog led searchers Tuesday to a 12-year-old Boy Scout who was weak and dehydrated but alive in the rugged North Carolina mountains, about a mile from the camp he had wandered away from four days earlier.

Michael Auberry was found on the side of a ridge, just half a mile north of the original campsite where he walked away on Saturday, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann.

"He was a little disoriented, but he was great," said Misha Marshall, the South Carolina Search and Rescue Dog Association volunteer whose dog, Gandalf, found Michael Auberry on a wooded ridge.

"He just said, 'I'm hungry,"' Marshall said. And he wanted some water.

Michael was so tired that once he was rescued he slept on a canvass stretcher for nearly 45 minutes as rescuers carried him down the mountain, adds Strassmann.

"There are a lot of smiling people standing around me here at the command post, and a lot of rescuers and folks who are very pleased to hear this news," National Park Service spokeswoman Tina White told CBS News' Karyn Regal a few minutes later. "We were focusing more heavily on the 35 different segments of the area where we thought he had the highest probability of being, and maybe that's what paid off."

Joe Ware, Assistant Fire Chief in McGrady, said the boy told the rescue team that picked him up and Marshall up on a nearby road that he had been drinking some water out of the streams in the area.

"He was calm," though a bit disoriented as he talked to the rescuers, Ware said. "He wanted peanut butter crackers and water."

Ware said he checked him for injuries, then he and the other rescuers carried the boy into a ranger station, where a medical team and his parents met him. He was later taken by ambulance to a hospital.

The radio communication from the search team that found the boy set off a celebration among leaders of several Scout troops waiting for news about the boy. "A lot of tears, a lot of hugs," White said, and members of Michael's church joined hands to pray at the staging area.

"This shows that when everybody works together, good things happen," said associate minister Susan Norman Vickers of Christ United Methodist Church. "We just believed that he was going to be found."

Earlier, the boy's father talked about his confidence in the rescue teams searching for his son in the damp, cool wilderness.

"What we got here is our son, who's lost, lost somewhere out there, and we don't know where he is," Kent Auberry said. "We've got great professionals looking for him. We're just waiting for the news."

Dog teams, about 70 people and a plane with heat-sensing equipment had been searching the rugged area around the camp site. Overnight temperatures were in the upper 30s to low 40s on Tuesday, milder than on Sunday night, when temperatures dropped into the 20s.

Michael vanished after lunch with his fellow Scouts and troop leaders on Saturday. His father said the adults and the other boys on the trip told him Michael had slept late but nothing appeared to have been wrong.

"He was in good spirits," Auberry said. "He ate lunch, chatting with the boys. He was walking around with I think some Pringles and a mess kit. The next moment, sounds like a blink of the eye, he was gone."

Authorities said the boy probably wandered into the woods to explore.

Searchers found Michael's mess kit a few hours after he disappeared and within a mile of the camp site. White said they had also found a candy wrapper and a potato chip bag.

While the weather has been chilly, White said Michael was wearing two jackets, one of them fleece.

As a Scout, Michael had had some wilderness training. His father also talked about one of Michael's favorite books when he was younger, a story about a boy whose plane crashes in the wilderness, and how the boy survives on his own.

"I think he's got some of that book in his mind," Kent Auberry said. "They do a great job in the Scouts of educating the kids of what to beware of and tips. I'm hopeful that Michael has taken those to heart."

[zootallures2]

"At this point, there's absolutely no sign, no indication, whatsoever, of foul play, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann."

Doesn't sound any more odd than the Michael Devlin case. The kid was kiddnapped, but the kid had the gun and Devlin was gone for a whole month shortly after the kiddnapping. But the DA has an explaination as stupid as why building 7 fell. Instead of a scholarship, a local dealership bought a 13 year old witness a new full sized 4 x 4.

[extremophil]

It was all President Bush's fault. We need to pull our Boy Scouts out of the Smokies now, before it's too late.

[thenamesdave]

As much as a relief as it is that this young man was found, why is it always the white, middle-class, church-going children that get all the media attention when they disappear?

[bosnmate820]

Boy Scout Leadres are not always experienced in search and rescue. A boy scout uniform doesn't make you an expert in tracking or hiking. It was suggested that the schools could have supplied "thousands" to look for this boy. That would have been thousands of untrained people wandering back and forth over possible clues relating to his disappearance. That many people stomping through the woods would also render dogs helpless to track. The book the boy read just might have saved his life.

[ander241]

What bothers me is that he has ADHA and nobody was responsible for making certain they kept his Ritalin with them at all times during outings. He has "impulsive, restlessness, and may not behave as rationally as you would like?" C'mon, and these folks say there are no signs of foul play? There usually is none when it comes to children or even adults who know their abductor. For Pete's sake, the most recent of boys being found alive were in the Devlin case. No one found any "foul play" during those obductions.

And the temperature is in the 30s-40s at night. Does Michael retain the skills to keep warm in clothes he was wearing during the warmer day-time hours without his Ritalin?

Not many people are searching such a wilderness for this boy. Seems they need to step up the search.

Candy wrappers just a mile away? Why candy? Only potato chips were mentioned that he had left from lunch. Sounds like Hanzel and Gretal. The troop and now the searchers seem to be lacking in the care of this little boy. I hope he is found alive. He may wander during the day if he actually does hunker down and stay warm at night. The more he wanders the more the trail becomes obscure. He doesn't have anything more to leave a trail if he is thinking properly, except clothing, which would be deadly at night.

[Syndicate]

I was starting to have my doubts. I figured yesterday he was dead. Its great to be so wrong.

[darkomen1]

What's with all this unusual nonsense and odd talk.

They found the kid, and they did it with the resources they had available.

If they needed more resources I'm sure they would have requested it.

If there was foul play it would have been mentioned as such.

Conspiracies aren't in every story.

and it wasn't George Bush's fault, it was Hillary Clinton's. She was mad because so many Eagle Scouts sent back their letters because it was from her husband who had no honor.

[nolalou]

aardbear,
You like sounding like a complete idiot?

[darkomen1]

ADHD, means your focus isn't always spot on, but it also doesn't mean your disabled or helpless.

[dollybaird]

aardbear you need to take an english course!! I couldn't understand what statement you wanted to make!

I just hope he had enough survival skills to rely on, after a couple of missing boy scouts so recently they will be teaching them earlier.

In support of the scouts!!

[oleander8]

My Gawd! Most of you folks could make a conspiracy out of a Lemonade Stand - and the rest of you wouldn't find joy in a good buzz.

[badbrown126]

In Pittsburgh the Boy Scouts are huge .... not so much the Mormons. 90% of Boy Scouts are Mormon's .... are you people high ?

[darkomen1]

I was a Boy Scout and wasn't Mormon

[rvjrvj]

I just thank God that that child is ok..

[ander241]

This story makes me happy. That kid did a good job staying alive and in good health as long as he did. Yes, I know ADHD doesn't make a person disabled. Thanks for setting others straight, omendark1. I never intended to make this sound in any way that the boy was disabled. I have ADD. I am not always spot on and compensate for it most of the time. No one even knows I am burdened by it.

At any rate, the outcome is happy.

To h*ll with all of those who poo-poo this and use it to blame politics, conspiricies,etc. Seems like there are always those who get off the track of a story and start ranting. Get off the line until you can read and respond accurately. The rest of us try to skip over your stories once we read the stupidity in them.

[last121868]

Great job to everyone who searched!!!!

[ictrep]

I can't believe that anyone is grousing about anything. Just be thankful that they found him alive. I wouldn't care why he walked off at this point -- just that he was found alive.

[zootallures2]

Apollo 13 returns!

[vet_sk]

Those who claimed that his A.D.D. may be causing him problems in the woods should be embarrassed.

A.D.D. is just another label the schools/society put on kids so that they can medicate them so they can sit in a boring classroom and be well contained.

Those with A.D.D. often are more situationally aware then those who are considered studious.

[toldyouso21]

Hmmmmm let's see...child left alone with an adult while everyone else is hiking.....when they return, child just walks off alone.....

1. No adult should be left alone with a child without others around to witness what happnes--too many pedophiles have infiltrated boy's clubs, etc.

2. Maybe something happened (like molestation) and the boy walked away in shock, grief and fear--just to get away from the assailant.

3. The background of the adult left him should be throroughly scrutinized as well as the child being examined. Due to his decisions to walk away--he may be more of a secret keeper and not a "teller". If something happened, he may, out of fear, or shame be determined to keep it secret.

I think the key is the 2 alone, then his "guardian" who was so solicitous to stay behind alone--somehow losing that same vigilance and the boy was gone.

The entire story is suspect--why do Parents keep operating in a vacuum? Molestation is a crime of opportunity--and that opportunity is often provided by Parents too trusting in human nature and too oblivious to what statistics have pointed out for years.

[sasi1-2009]

Thank you, God! You answered our prayers.

[bboc77]

totally AWESOME

[toldyouso21]

They are, in biblical terms, called "fools," and as the Holy Bible tells us, there is NO HOPE FOR THEM, because in the self-aggrandizing glory of their addiction to self-will they not only refuse to, they cannot see truth.

Posted by aardbear at 01:55 PM : Mar 20, 2007


The bible also says:

"..but whosever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hellfire" Matthew 5:22

It IS a complex book. Perhaps worth reading THOROUGHLY and not just getting the sound bites or preacher's spin.

[crystalblue3]

Glad he was found safe. Hope nothing as bad as some of you are thinking happened to him.

[theeggman369]

Jesus Christ toldyouso21! I sure don't see any evidence of what your ranting about in what I have read. Where does it say he was left alone with an adult? It's bad enought that he is getting all this unwanted national attention, but for you to label him as having probably been molested and now he'll probably never talk about it is ridiculus! Lets just give other kids he knows and friends and neighbors something else to wisper about behind his back. Sounds like you have a problem. Maybe you should go see your shrink and unload on him instead of making a poor child miserable by starting this kind of rumor.

[toldyouso21]

Love all the conspiracies, what probably happened is that the boy seen something cool on the hike (a rabbit or something), went to investigate... and when he turned back around, the group was gone... and he took off (in the wrong direction) to catch up with them... presto.. you are lost!

Lots of neat and cool things to look at in the woods that will distract any boy's attention.

... that or he was sodomized by aliens!
Posted by leftwingnut at 02:06 PM : Mar 20, 2007


Obviously, reading comprehension is not your strong point. The boy nevr went on the hike. He stayed behind, with an adult while everyone else went on the hike. When they returned, supposedly the boy just got up and left the camp. Maybe that is when he saw the rabbit and got lost--but he never saw anything on a hike he never took.

the question is, why did he leave the camp and everyone else and just walk away? Escpecially since he had NOT gone on the hike just hours before? And why did one grown up stay to keep him " company" when due to the abundance of molestation cases--no child should be left alone in such an unmonitored situation?

[dragonmouse-2009]

I'm a little confused about where all this Mormon and politic stuff came from??? None of that was in the article.

From what I can best tell it sounds like the kid was probably distracted by something (he's a kid...he could have seen an animal or something and curiousity got the best of him) maybe too...he was with a couple of other boys and he wanted to "beat" them to the end of the trail (uhhh...just for the record...kids do that all the time)so he THOUGHT he knew a shortcut and walked off the trail a little too far and got turned around (if anyone has been in the woods...you'll find that's not hard to do, trees look alike).

ADHD being part of the culprint. Nah...I think it's more just being a kid.

IF ADHD was part of the issue then perhaps it's because many ADHD patients "CAN" be known to be a bit more easily distracted...but overall... kids can be distracted even without having an ADHD diagnosis.

Bottom line is Thank God this child was found quickly and will recover nicely with a lot of extra hugs. I applaud the father for not pushing blame on anyone but instead just being thankful his son was found. BRAVO Dad!!!

[toldyouso21]

does it say he was left alone with an adult?

Posted by TheEggman369 at 02:17 PM : Mar 20, 2007


Are you only now reading this story? When it was first reported on the day it occurred, the articles stated the boy was left alone with an adult while everyone else went hiking, when they returned, the boy was gone. Later, the same day, it was reported that the boy had left after the group returned.

You may only have read this part, but some of us have been following this story for a few days--like...when it was first reported.

[toldyouso21]

Here's the link to the original story:


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/18/ap/national/main2582253.shtml

[theeggman369]

Yes, I am just reading this for the first time today. I'm just saying that labeling this as a molestation case is wrong! And unless you have proof of that kind of action you should not not tell everybody that this is what you think may have happened. It is a hell of a label to apply to a 12 yr old boy, Especially if it never happened! Unless you did it, don't start rumors. Thats All I'm saying.

[toldyouso21]

I would have to agree.
Posted by leftwingnut at 02:25 PM : Mar 20, 2007

God help your children if things like you can reproduce...that; and /or--God help our children if they run into things like you.

[toldyouso21]

LOL. That is not a rumour, it is a postulation and a plausible one at that. Not a very nice one, and I hope it is unfounded, but it is in this day and age a very unfortunate and tragic scenario. When developing premises for the whys of any story---don't rule out the possible, just because it is ugly. As for the child, perhaps even worse than speculation on what may have caused him trauma and caused him to leave camp is the ostritch scenariom where adults don't want to know, make it a stigma and therefore make it impossible for him to ever tell.

Let's just hope it did not happen, but after what has continually been a problem for youth org and this country (ie., molestations of children in these groups) let's be adult enough and strong enough to consider and look into--ALL possibilities.

[dragonmouse-2009]

I just read this article too. I went and checked the PREVIOUS article. I'm very glad the kid was found. I really can't jump on a "molestation" charge and at this point I really don't see any reason for it at all. That's a very serious charge and a very unfair label to both the boy and the adult.

It could have been too that after a little while he changed his mind and "thought" he could catch up with his troop. Maybe he thought he saw somebody...Whoops...wrong trail... viola... LOST.

Animals and aliens too can be very tempting to go chase and from what I've learned they know their way around the woods much better than a kid. The kid was eating pringles. Those "adorable" little "chipmunks" seem to LOVE potato chips. I wouldn't doubt that one was drawn out in hopes of findng a quick snack.

[dogsoul]

"1. No adult should be left alone with a child without others around to witness what happnes--too many pedophiles have infiltrated boy's clubs, etc...Maybe something happened (like molestation) and the boy walked away in shock, grief and fear--just to get away from the assailant...The background of the adult left him should be throroughly scrutinized as well as the child being examined. Due to his decisions to walk away--he may be more of a secret keeper and not a "teller". If something happened, he may, out of fear, or shame be determined to keep it secret."

While I'm certainly in agreement that we need to be vigilant when it comes to the safety of our children against would-be predators... the amount of suspicion contained in the above post without any more evidence than a child walking off alone is why I will never, ever work with kids... it's a shame really, I'm a good guy - wife, kid on the way - good morals - would be a good role model I think - have thought about being a mentor, or a little league coach - but with people so quick to jump such heavy suspicions - I just can't take the risk... all it takes is some talk & your reputation is gone - and if the kid is coerced into making any false accusations, you're done - proof or no proof.

[toldyouso21]

There was no catching up to the troop, they were at the camp--he left the camp. But maybe you are right. Maybe, the child just wanted to hike alone and left after everyone returned from the hike he did not go on. Is it wrong to try to find out and to investigate other theories? I bet the police will.

as for unfair to the adult, please. I have counseled many sexual abuse victims and the common denominator most have is that the adults in their lives never knew (unless they were the perps) and that due to threats, or shame or guilt they felt they could not tell the adults. More than once, people felt that the adults did NOT want to know what happened and did NOT listen or pay close attention to signs.

One must consider all possibilities, even the unpleasant ones. and to that end, the child should be examined (ostensibly for stress and hypothermia) and the adult interviewed. After the many cases where sexual abuse IS discovered or later relayed after years of silence--it is surprising that some of you still play the fingers in your ears , while singing "la la la" game. The story must be investigated and I hope it will be.

[toldyouso21]

Frankly, I am surprised that so many object to the possibility of moletation in this incident? What do you really fear?

Because the modus operandi of a molester relies on adults refusing to consider ugly acts and the molester convincing the child not to tell. How well do those protesting on this board play their part? if the adult has nothing to hide, they will understand the need both for scrutiny and interviews--and so will the parents and the child--or...we can all just pretend that nothing untoward happened and "hope" if anything happened it was a one off event . MAYBE nothing happened--but maybe it did. If it did, it will only be one of hundreds of similar cases over the years-- and jut like in past generations--there will always be many who dare not even consider it. Molesters count on that very human condition of denial, especially from the adults--it is what allows them to perpetuate acts for years on the same victims and many others.

[agnim]

All is well that ends well.

The so-called adults responsible for people's children aren't worth a dime these days.

When these incompetent and careless adults are not sodomizing the children or otherwise abusing them, they are neglecting them.

[toldyouso21]

I'm naturally suspicious, I have worked with many traumatized adults who were molested as children, so I will see those warning signs faster than many but...for those who wish to work with kids or in any other industry it is CYA. This means as when girls at schools or in airports or anywhere else must be alone with a male, they have back up and a witness. In another job, back up may be hard copy or letters or even taped messages. When one deals with the potential of abuse (in being falsely accused or being a victim) one simply performs CYA another way. Most police dept. have females frisk female offenders. Most schools require one on one meetings of adult males and female students to be supervised. and most people want witnesses to avoid even a hint of impropriety. The only people who don't are those who fail to CYA and those who have ulterior motives.

[jetlizhan]

Praise the Lord! just read he's been found. let all involved just be happy he's okay - question him in private later.

[theeggman369]

I postulate that toldyouso21you must have either be the recipient of molestation or a molestor. Not a runmor, just a postulation. How does that make you feel? Feel better because it's just a postulation? I also agree with dogsoul when he points out that too many good people are having thier lives ruined over just this sort of postulation. I think it is people just like you who will bring down good things like scouting, or even being an alter boy, things that at one time were considered good things to do or be, and are now tainted over other peoples postulations of what could of or what might have happened.

[stezzer]

Nice to read good news for a change. I'm very happy for his family, the relief must be incredible.

[toldyouso21]

It is a known that approximately 75 to 85% of all child molesters seek jobs or extra curricular activities which keeps them in close proximity to children asnd that the parents NEVER suspected.

Epecially desirable are those type of interaction which will allow children to be left in the hands of the caregiver like overnite trips or campoing expeditions. Many, many adults can relay stories of seduction or molestation at the hands of scout leaders, coaches, pastors, etc. It is not rare, in fact, it is quite common. So much so, that the BSA and other groups have banned known *** from being leaders in the mistaken belief that those who molest young boys are homosexual. In truth, most men found to molest boys in such settings are "happily" married and often have children of their own. The predilection to want to have *** with children and to develope game plans to involve themself with large numbers in sports or other activities unfortunately goes hand in hand with the predilection of many in this country --to think that "happily married men (or women) with families" cannot sexually abuse a child. The truth is anyone can, and many do--but they could not do it sooo easily if it was not for the denial of many to even consider that in their church, school or scout troop, may lurk an opportunistic predator, and chances are very high (if one is lurking) that he or she is nice, fun and very, very married.

[bjbbc2004]

I am amazed by all of the email above. Why would anyone automatically assume that there was molestation involved. Kids are kids and they run off all the time. They are airheads. That is why they have parents to lead them. Maybe, just maybe, he was curious and wandered off or maybe he was acting out his favorite book that his father talked about in the article. Part of the reason this world is the way it is today is because of how people always want to find the worst in a situation. Some kind of morbid turn on. Way too many sickos out there waiting to point the finger.

[toldyouso21]

postulate that toldyouso21you must have either be the recipient of molestation or a molestor. Not a runmor, just a postulation. How does that make you feel? Feel better because it's just a postulation

Posted by theeggman369 at 03:07 PM : Mar 20, 2007

I always consider the source. How do I feel? That your "Postulation " is not relevant. That as a mother of 5 and a person who always CMAs I have nothing to fear. THe fact is,t he child was left alone with an adult and there were no witnesses to what went on...we could postulate that everyone who protests this line of theoretical posits are all child molesters who want to absolve and plead their case--but that would be too broad a brush and equally irrelevant. More important than the person who points out a potential problem are those (also with no proof) who want to deny the possibility that a problem can even exist. I raised the possibility--and you defend? And what will you say if it comes out that the boy was molested? Ooops your bad? I hope others are a bit more assiduous in determining what occurred than you are. One must consider the possibility--I wonder why that bothers some of you--the possibility must NOT be considered? Interesting.

[toldyouso21]

Part of the reason this world is the way it is today is because of how people always want to find the worst in a situation. Some kind of morbid turn on. Way too many sickos out there waiting to point the finger.

Posted by bjbbc2004 at 03:17 PM : Mar 20, 2007


and here most of us were thinking the world is in the state it is in, because people only care about themselves and fail to consider others and mistakenly think their way of thinking is the only way. Which of course leads to grown men and women molesting kids and thinking kids get out of it the same things they do and leads to countries invading and killing people in other countries over lies, but somehow convincing themselves that they are a wanted presence and saviours of the countries they devastate--but there ya go, its what happens when there is less thinking a simply this idea that if you close your own eyes---that the rest of us can not see you.

[robjk1-2009]

Be carful when accusing someone of molesting. I was falsely accused before, I've bever molested a child in my life, thank God. But I tickled my duaghter with my duaghter saying I'm going tot tell mommy, I said you better not. So we played that little game back and forth, but guess what happen. She repeated to my wife "daddy touched me down there and said don't tell mommy" She was only like 4 and unable to give clear details.

We got through by Gods grace. So just wait and see on situations that may sound suspicious.

[toldyouso21]

"What happened and what went wrong and why did Michael walk off %u2014 those are all questions that have been plaguing us as we've been following this search. And those are hopefully questions that will get answered whenever we meet with Michael privately," White said.


Seems like I am not the only one with a bit if suspscion...one of the tenets in group scouting is to NEVER scout alone--to be with a buddy at all times--that he broke that is cause for speculation. That he was left alone at the campsite with one adult is not speculation it is the actual circumtance--anyone in a position of authority would be remiss in not questioning how he came to disregard scouting rules---and anyone who did not want the natural trajectory of such questions to perhaps scrutinize the circumstances right before he left. Realists do not simply look at things as they way they wish or hope, and they do not even look at the way things "appear" they analyze and try to get to what really happened. Based on the article-- my postulation is probably one of the considerations of authorities.

[toldyouso21]

"What happened and what went wrong and why did Michael walk off %u2014 those are all questions that have been plaguing us as we've been following this search. And those are hopefully questions that will get answered whenever we meet with Michael privately," White said.


Seems like I am not the only one with a bit if suspscion...one of the tenets in group scouting is to NEVER scout alone--to be with a buddy at all times--that he broke that is cause for speculation. That he was left alone at the campsite with one adult is not speculation it is the actual circumtance--anyone in a position of authority would be remiss in not questioning how he came to disregard scouting rules---and anyone who did not want the natural trajectory of such questions to perhaps scrutinize the circumstances right before he left. Realists do not simply look at things as they way they wish or hope, and they do not even look at the way things "appear" they analyze and try to get to what really happened. Based on the article-- my postulation is probably one of the considerations of authorities.

[sugarmice-2009]

My goodness - he's a boy scout and very adventurous I presume - I sure was when I was a kid and I grew up in the woods of Northern minnesota and spent days walking in the woods pretending I was a great hunter - I'm sure he was just curious, got disoriented and lost - but being a scout he had some common sense about him. I don't see that in some of the postings here - can't believe some of you automatically ASSUME he was molested - must be some sick area of your mind that either you were abused as a child or have tendencies towards that. Shame on you - try and find the GOOD in some of these stories - and give the people out there a chance NOT everyone has sick tendencies -

[robjk1-2009]

excuse my type errors