MANSFIELD — Mansfield police have found the missing 44-year-old man and his 6-year-old nephew and both are safe.
Authorities said the two were found in a downtown area. A press conference is planned at 12:30 p.m. that Richland Source will cover and offer live on Facebook.
Police had been searching for the duo since Wednesday evening.
Police said Timothy Lee Whitt, 44, and his nephew, Zane Clay, 6, left the boy’s residence at 117 Pleasant Ave. on Wednesday at 9 a.m., ostensibly so Whitt could spend time with the child.
Police said Clay’s mother became concerned when they had not returned to her home, later Wednesday evening, as expected.
Just before 10 a.m. today, Mansfield police Capt. Shari Robertson had said the search remained active.
“We have searched over 180 homes since 6 a.m. and are in the process of expanding the search area. The search efforts have included the use of organized search teams, Police K9 Units, the volunteers of the Ohio Special Response Team (OSRT) and the Divisions Unmanned Aerial System (DRONE),” she said.
Whitt has picked his nephew up from the residence many times in the past, according to police. However, the boy’s mother became concerned as Whitt has always had Zane home on time.
She has no way to contact Whitt (who is transient) and has not heard anything from them since they left, which has alarmed her.
The mother contacted Mansfield police at approximately 8:32 p.m. Wednesday evening to report both of them missing. Mansfield patrol officers and detectives have checked numerous locations for both subjects, to no avail. Both are believed to be on foot as Whitt does not own a vehicle.
Police activated A Child Is Missing (ACIM) in hopes of locating the boy, as well as his uncle and officers continue searching the area. Anyone with information on their whereabouts or who may have seen them, is asked to call Mansfield police at (419) 522-1234.
