Missing boy found at home

Child in lake community found an hour later, sleeping

NEW FAIRFIELD — A parent’s worst nightmare and a frantic search for a missing 4-year-old boy in a lakeside community ended with a sigh of relief Wednesday when the youth was located sleeping inside the home.

The mother, who declined to be identified, said she and her two sons were playing with water toys in the backyard on a particularly hot day Wednesday when she put her younger son down for a nap. When she returned moments later, the 4-year-old had disappeared.

The woman said she called out for her son and searched the home and property several times before calling authorities.

“The State Police were here within minutes and they were very reassuring,” the mother said. “I can’t say enough good things about how they handled the situation. They were really amazing.”

Knowing that the child had disappeared within walking distance of Candlewood Lake, authorities called in Texas, a State Police K9, and were preparing to launch Trooper One, the State Police helicopter, when the boy was found.

“The handler took a small piece of my son’s pillow case for the dog to get his scent,” she said. “At one point the dog kept pulling back trying to get inside the house. It was when they started asking for my son’s social security number that I really began to panic.”

When authorities found the boy sleeping in the home, the

“I was a little embarrassed but the police said it actually happens all the time.”

Mother of 4-year-old boy, who was found after being reported missing near Candlewood Lake

woman said she ran inside as relief overwhelmed her. The boy had been missing for about an hour.

“I gave him a great big hug,” she said. “I was a little embarrassed but the police said it actually happens all the time. Then I went outside to tell the dog’s handler that he was found. I was so happy that Texas licked my face a dozen times.”

The boy was playing with a sand shovel when police left the residence.

”You couldn’t find me under the cushions,” the child told his mother with a smile.