CRAVEN COUNTY, N.C. — Authorities in Craven County say 3-year-old Casey Hathaway, was missing for more than two days, has been found alive in good health near the home he disappeared from.
In a news release Thursday night, FBI officials said Hathaway was located by professional search and rescue crews in eastern North Carolina.
Officials said the child is in good health and is being evaluated at Carolina East Medical Center in New Bern.
Craven County Sheriff Chip Hughes said Hathaway was playing with two other children in his grandmother's backyard in Ernul on Tuesday, but didn't come inside with them.
TRENDING STORIES:
- WARNING: Gunmen use elaborate set up to target bicyclists, joggers on busy trail
- Worker shot inside popular metro Atlanta restaurant; Shooter(s) on the run
- Man accused of stabbing school board member 17+ times claims self-defense
Officials said earlier on Thursday that challenging weather wasn't going to stop the search for Hathaway.
Heavy rains and strong winds were expected as officials searched the thick woods behind the home.
Craven County Sheriff Chip Hughes told reporters on Wednesday afternoon that the FBI, state investigators and the U.S. Marines Corps from nearby bases at Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point were part of the effort to find the child.
The FBI's Charlotte Division said only professional searchers participated because of weather-related safety concerns.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Cox Media Group
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/NRRF4INJGBD6VF36Z7SQHC2O2Y.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/EQMWF7HLRJAHFACPG6PWM2Y5VA.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/UHQLSPFL55G2XILUPW5LZOWB3Y.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/YIPSUWJL2WBEJNGHEG3C3MLCLE.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/MKWAFFZRQZCM3ATDDA5YQDZOME.jpeg)