CRESTVIEW, April 24, 2026—A missing 16-year-old autistic teen was safely reunited with his Crestview family Thursday due to a deputy’s awareness and swift action during a lengthy search.

The teen was reported missing after wandering away from his family’s home around 4:30 p.m., prompting an immediate response from deputies who began searching the neighborhood and surrounding area as night fell.

After a couple of hours of searching in the dark, a deputy studying an aerial map of the area noticed two ponds. Drawing on experience and training, the deputy knew children with autism are often attracted to water and he recognized the ponds as a priority location to check.

He contacted the property owner, who said someone matching the teen’s description had been seen there approximately 90 minutes earlier.

Deputies quickly shifted the search to that property.

Within minutes of arriving, they deployed thermal imaging technology with the Drone Unit and located the teen hiding in dense brush along the wood line just feet from the ponds. He was approximately 2 miles from his home.

He was unharmed and safely returned to his grateful family.

Assisting in the search were K-9 teams from Okaloosa and Walton correctional institutions.

Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office release and photo