MONTICELLO, Illinois (WCIA) — A mother in Monticello was relieved to learn her missing son was found safe Friday night.
Cayden Kelly, 18, went missing Friday afternoon. His urgency increased because he had autism. Kelly’s mother Cricket said her daughter informed her that something was wrong.
“My daughter called me from school saying she needed to check on him,” said Crickett. “That’s when I knew something had happened.”
Kelly’s absence has prompted law enforcement and the community to take action. Authorities issued an emergency notice asking people to look out for him and brought in nearly a dozen agencies to search for him.
These agencies included the local fire department, police department, Piatt County Sheriff’s Office, and the Illinois State Police. Members of the WCIA team saw people walking with flashlights looking for Kelly and planes circling the area.
The plane was a State Police aircraft with thermal sensors. The device was able to detect Kelly’s temperature and he was found safe near the Sangamon River.
Cricket is very happy that his son is alive.
“I mean, I was shocked because I wasn’t sure they would find him,” she said.
Crickett said his son was taken to hospital after being found and is in a stable condition. She thanked everyone in the community for their help in finding him.
