OSP Trooper Locates Missing 4-Year-Old Oregon Child

Polk County, Oregon– In a collaborative effort involving multiple law enforcement agencies, a missing four-year-old child was found safe after an extensive search operation in Polk County, Oregon, on Saturday, February 3, 2024. The child had wandered off from his home, situated on a property spanning 20 acres of dense vegetation, around 5:30 p.m., prompting concerns due to the cold, darkness, and recent predator activity in the area.

Upon receiving the report, Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers from the Salem and McMinnville Area Commands swiftly mobilized, joining forces with personnel from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office, Salem Police Department, Grand Ronde Tribal Police, Polk County Fire District, Polk County Search and Rescue, and OSP. The combined efforts aimed to locate the missing child, who had been unaccounted for approximately two hours before the extensive search commenced.

Troopers Lorence and Watkin from the McMinnville Area Command, along with Troopers Bass and Stetson from the Salem Area Command, and Sr. Trooper Smith and his K-9, responded promptly to assist with the search. Their dedication and coordination, under challenging circumstances, proved instrumental in the positive outcome of the operation.

After hours of relentless searching, Trooper Lorence, who had separated from the main search team to cover an area near Hwy. 18, made a pivotal discovery. Around 9:30 p.m., approximately four hours after the child had gone missing, Trooper Lorence found the child near a pullout on Hwy. 18, about one mile west of the property. The child, exhibiting resilience, asked, “Can you take me home?” Following evaluation by medical personnel on scene, the child, though sustaining minor injuries from a fall, was reunited with his relieved family.

Captain Kyle Kennedy expressed gratitude for the swift and successful resolution, emphasizing the compassion and dedication demonstrated by the troopers and all responding personnel involved in the operation.

He acknowledged the distressing nature of the situation for the child and his family, underscoring the importance of the positive outcome.