Child Wanders Into Strangers Home at 3 am

On January 24th, at approximately 2:54 a.m., Yavapai County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a residence in a rural neighborhood north of Chino Valley, after a homeowner reported that a 12-year-old boy, whom they did not recognize, had arrived at their home. The child appeared disoriented and was suffering from the cold.

Through investigation and prior knowledge of the child, deputies quickly identified the boy, who they knew had autism. He had been staying overnight at a friend’s house when he decided he wanted to return to his own home. Although he left without waking or verbally notifying anyone, the thoughtful child left a note explaining his departure before walking out alone. He became lost and cold during the journey and eventually sought help at the reporting party’s residence.

Deputies requested medical personnel to evaluate the child on scene, and he was medically cleared. Deputies then located the boy’s parents and safely returned him to their care.

The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office extends sincere thanks to the alert and compassionate citizen who took the child in and promptly contacted law enforcement. Their quick actions helped ensure a safe resolution to what could have become a dangerous situation.

This incident also serves as an important reminder of the value of Deputies' strong community connections and the critical role they play in achieving successful outcomes for our residents.

Families can use safety tools such as the Autism Elopement Alert Form to provide first responders with critical information and to implement home safety measures like window and door alarms. Experts also recommend creating a Family Wandering Emergency plan to identify nearby attractions and dangerous areas, such as bodies of water. You can also keep identification on your child, like a wearable ID or information cards.