Franklin “Frankie” Orwig III, aged 4, was reported missing from his home on Burgess Avenue in Cocoa, Florida, just before 9 a.m. on Friday (Feb. 10), according to the Brevard County Sheriffs Office. Frankie’s father, Frank, explained that he fell asleep while his son was playing on an iPad, and when he woke up Frankie was gone.
He said, “I wasn’t even asleep 35 minutes or so. Then I get up, I look for him, he wasn’t in the house, and I’m freaking out.”
Orwig immediately called local law enforcement, and the sheriff’s office sent out its Child Abduction Response team to search for Frankie. A helicopter was launched to try locate Frankie from the air.
The boy was spotted by the helicopter in a heavily wooded area and the crew directed the search and rescue teams to his location. He was found safe and unharmed about 60 yards (55 metres) from his house with his devoted dog, Rufus, who had stayed with him the whole time, the station reported.
Frankie was reunited with his tearful and emotional father and was carried home safely. “I ran up to him, and I wouldn’t even let him go, I was just crying so badly,” Orwig said.
Sheriff Wayne Ivey thanked the community and all who were involved in the search.
“While today’s case thankfully ended with the little fellow being found safe and sound, it was a test and testament to how Brevard County Law Enforcement and its citizens partner together to keep everyone safe,” he said.
