How a 3-year-old boy survived two days alone in the Montana wilderness

A three-year-old boy, Ryker Webb was reported missing on June 3, 2022, he survived two days in the Montana wilderness enduring near-freezing temperatures. During this time, he sought refuge in an unoccupied log cabin and managed to keep himself warm by utilizing a lawnmower bag as a makeshift sleeping bag.

The Beginning

Ryker Webb from Troy, Montana, was playing with the family dog on June 3, 2022, when he suddenly decided to take a walk on his own and then wandered off from his family's yard. His parents reported him missing two hours later, triggering a massive search operation involving multiple agencies, ground responders, ATV teams, canine teams, drones, helicopters, and a boat unit.

Two Montana National Guard helicopters joined search efforts along with drones from Flathead County and the Spokane Police Department.

However, the sheriff's office said it was 'extremely difficult to get the additional air assets into the Bull Lake valley due to very poor weather conditions which consisted of rain, low visibility, and low ceiling.'

The search was hampered by poor weather conditions, including rain, low visibility, and thunderstorms. To make matters worse, the area where Ryker disappeared is also known to be inhabited by mountain lions and bears. The authorities issued a code red alert to the residents the following day, asking them to search their properties and structures for the missing boy. For two days, the search team came up with nothing.

Finding Ryker

On Sunday, June 5, 2022, a miracle happened. A couple who were visiting their cabin in the rural area of Troy, Lincoln County, heard a voice near their shed and found Ryker inside. The boy had sought shelter in the shed and slept inside a lawnmower bag for two nights.

This cabin was located near Pine Ridge Road and South Forth Bull River Road in Sanders County, Montana, only 2.4 miles away from his home. He was hungry, thirsty, and cold, but otherwise unharmed. The charming toddler, with red hair and blue eyes, was found wearing a soiled light blue onesie that had multiple holes near his feet. He had visible bruises on his face and appeared pale, tired, and dehydrated.

Not understanding what such a young boy was doing all alone in the wilderness, they quickly called the police.

The police and Lincoln County Sheriff Darren Short arrived at the scene. Short later said that the boy was very scared until he was reunited with his parents. He told the police that he had gone for a long walk by himself, but got tired.

According to the Sheriff, Short:

'I asked him if he'd been on a walk?'

Ryker said, 'Yes!'

'When I asked if the walk was long?'

Ryker replied, 'Yes.

'When I asked if he was tired?'

The boy said 'Very tired.'

Ryker was taken to Cabinet Peaks Medical Center, where he was evaluated and released.

Further Investigation

After Ryker was found, the police also had further questions, one of which was why Ryker's parents waited for two hours before they reported him missing and secondly why Ryker left his house in the first place. They had the suspicion that Ryker was an abused child.

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The Sheriff, Darren Short, reported that his department investigated the incident and looked into the boy's parents. He said that they wanted to make sure they knew the details of how he was able to walk away and why it took so long for them to get the call about it. He also said that Child Protective Services responded to the scene and they and the police are looking into possible cases of negligence and endangerment within the family. After they found nothing to worry about, Ryker was happily reunited with his family.

References:

(1) Missing Montana 3-year-old boy Ryker Webb found, survived in woods for.

(2) Boy found in Montana woods after missing for 48 hours.

(3) Where is Ryker Webb now? His health detailed - TheNetline.

(4) Missing 4-year-old found safe after surviving 2 days alone in remote.