5-year-old boy with autism found after disappearing during recess at Sto-Rox school
A 5-year-old boy with autism who went missing during recess at a Sto-Rox school has been found safe after an hours-long search.
Allegheny County police said kindergartener Jedadiah Jackson had last been seen around 11:50 a.m. Tuesday in the playground area outside Sto-Rox Primary Center on Ewing Road in Kennedy Township.
An extensive search for Jackson ensued. Police used drones and a helicopter while firefighters, detectives and K-9s searched on foot. Crews looked in the wooded area behind the school down to Route 51, and a river rescue team was also deployed.
Around 7 p.m., police said Jackson was found in a ravine in a wooded area behind the middle school. The plan was to get him evaluated by medics before taking him to the hospital. He was conscious and alert, but police didn't immediately have details about his condition.
"Detectives were canvassing the area near where he was located when he was spotted coming out of the woods and then back into the woods," said Lt. Venerando Costa. "We had multiple drones pinpoint him, also utilizing a siren on the drone and lights to help direct officers in and search and rescue to find him."
During the search, the Sto-Rox School District said it worked closely with police. The public was asked to refrain from joining the search, as police said they believed Jackson would be scared.
"We are deeply relieved and grateful to share that the missing student has been found," the Sto-Rox School District said in a statement posted to social media, thanking everyone involved in the search.
Allegheny County police, Allegheny County's CERT team, the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office, multiple police departments, Pennsylvania State Police, Allegheny Mountain Rescue Group, K-9s, EMS workers, firefighters and river rescue crews searched for the boy.
"It was all hands on deck and all eyes because there was no other way he was getting found," Lt. Conor Mullen of the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office said.
Sto-Rox school board president Cameron Culliver said they're "overjoyed" that the boy was found, and now they're looking at how they can make sure this never happens again.
"The family never lost hope. We never lost hope," Culliver said.
