Missing 10-Year-Old Found Safe After Overnight Search in Fort Bragg Area

A 10-year-old boy reported missing Wednesday afternoon was found safe Thursday morning after an extensive overnight search involving multiple agencies, according to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies were dispatched at approximately 3:23 p.m. on June 17, 2026, to a residence in the 30500 block of Highway 20 in the Fort Bragg area after family members reported the child missing. According to a sheriff’s office press release, investigators learned the boy had last been seen running toward a heavily wooded area north of the home. Given the circumstances and the child’s individual needs, deputies determined he was at risk and immediately launched a search of the surrounding terrain.

Family members assisted deputies during the initial response, along with the Fort Bragg Fire Department.

The Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (SAR) team deployed roughly 16 volunteers who searched throughout the night. Crews identified several clues that helped narrow search areas, though the child was not located before daylight, the press release stated.

As the search continued, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services coordinated mutual aid requests, bringing in additional search-and-rescue teams from outside the county. By early morning, approximately 75 additional personnel had joined the operation.

At about 8:35 a.m. on June 18, a SAR team using electric mountain bikes located the boy sleeping inside a small, abandoned structure roughly one mile from his home. He was found uninjured and reunited with his family at the scene. He was then transported by ambulance to a local hospital for a precautionary medical evaluation.

The Sheriff’s Office thanked participating agencies and volunteers for their efforts in safely resolving the search.