SOUTH WHITLEY – A missing 10-year-old was found safe after several hours of searching in Whitley County.
Whitley County Sheriff’s Department received a report of a missing juvenile around 3:20 p.m. Monday, according to a news release from the sheriff’s department.
Gunnar Hatton, 10, was reported missing from his residence at 2380 W. CR 800S, South Whitley.
Personnel from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Columbia City Police Department, Noble County Sheriff’s Department, South Whitley Police Department, Indiana State Police and Washington Township Fire Department followed several leads and conducted searches until 4 a.m. today. The search was suspended by fog at that time.
At 6:45 a.m. today, Whitley County Sheriff’s Department received a call that the boy had been located at a friend’s house approximately 2 miles from his home. Units responding to the home confirmed it was Hatton and that he was unharmed.
Police determined the boy got off the bus at his house and then walked to the friend’s house. He hid at the residence until he was seen by an adult this morning.
Whitley County Sheriff Marcus Gatton thanked all departments involved for their efforts. He also thanked citizens for providing information and media outlets for dispersing information quickly.
(Times Union Staff Report)
