On one warm April evening back in 2018, six-year-old Kaydon disappeared into thin air, literally. One second he was playing outside with the family dog, and the next he was gone. What ever happened to young Kaydon, and what were the authorities and the family met with when they finally found him?
22 Hours Later, Authorities Find Missing Six-Year-Old Boy, But He Isn’t Alone
Extremely Concerned
Kaydon and his family lived in a small community in Blount County, Tennessee called Top of the World. His parents let him play alone outside so long as he did not wander too far from their home without permission. However, on Monday, April 23rd, 2018, evening came but Kaydon was still not back home.
Extremely Concerned
He Didn’t Come Home
His parents grew extremely concerned as their son was usually home by 6 p.m. While they were sure he had enjoyed playing outside like he usually did, by the time that evening came, it was not fun and games for the adults anymore.
He Didn’t Come Home
A Good Boy
Kaydon Leach is a good and happy boy who enjoyed being outdoors and especially loved playing with his pets, specifically his black and white terrier, Chula. Similar to other six-year-olds, Kaydon likes getting up to mischief, as well.
A Good Boy
Not Taking A Risk
At first, Kaydon’s parents thought he was just somewhere around the house, but when they realized he was not, they alerted Blount County Sheriff, James Lee Berrong. Since they lived in a small town, everyone knew each other.
Not Taking A Risk
A Nightmare
They were not taking any chances since it was getting dark and cold, and they knew that their son did not have a coat with him. For a parent, it is a terrible nightmare if their child goes missing.
A Nightmare
A Responsible Boy
Was he with friends? His parents could only hope. Maybe he had just lost track of time or gotten lost on his way home. He was resonsible though so they had a feeling that none of these scenarios were accurate.
A Responsible Boy
A Missing Child
It is natural for a parent to want to protect their child, so when this instinct gets tested, the situation becomes frightening for a parent. Kaydon Leach’s parents are not an exception to this.
A Missing Child
Regrets
They could not figure out why their young son suddenly vanished, and they just wanted to find and bring him back home safe and sound. They now wished they never let him out alone to play in the first place.
Regrets
Bad Gut Feeling
Something really strange was going on and while they did not know it yet, they already had a gut feeling about it. Where was their boy? Would he be okay? Would they ever find him?
Bad Gut Feeling
Nothing To Do
These questions were running through their minds. They tried to think positively but the worst possible outcome kept coming up. Poor little Kaydon was in trouble and his parents couldn’t do anything to help him.
Nothing To Do
No Time to Lose
The County Sheriff knew there was no time to lose in telling people about the missing boy, so he immediately enlisted help. He rounded up everyone he could possibly find in a matter of minutes.
No Time to Lose
24 Hour Wait
Usually, a person needs to wait for 24 hours before they can file a missing person alert, though that was not the case for Kaydon seeing as this community is pretty close-knit.
24 Hour Wait
Trying To Be Optimistic
Kaydon’s parents were extremely worried that their child got lost somewhere, without a coat to help keep him warm. They lived in a cool environment and their son is thin and doesn’t have much fat on his bones. This worried them even more.
Trying To Be Optimistic
Some Relief For The Family
The worst scenario was not something the Sheriff wanted to think of just yet, so he got to work right away and provided the Leaches the little relief that he could. They were on the hunt for Kaydon.
Some Relief For The Family
The Missing Boy’s Profile
At 7 p.m. that evening, an endangered child alert was released by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and it reported the description of Kaydon according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The Missing Boy’s Profile
Safely Home
It also implored the community to help find the boy, noting that Kaydon was last seen at about 6 p.m. They all worked together to find the little boy and bring him safely home to his family.
Safely Home
His Description
Kaydon’s parents described him as standing 4 feet tall, weighing 60 pounds (or 27 kg), and having blue eyes and brown hair. They also informed the Sheriff that at the time he disappeared, their missing young boy was wearing a black T-shirt, gray sweatpants, and slip-on shoes.
His Description
The Search
Search and rescue was carried out by the local Sheriff’s department and the nearby McGhee Tyson Airbase sent a military Blackhawk helicopter to help them. The search started really quickly after James Lee Berrong got the phone call from the parents of Kaydon Leach.
The Search
Searching Everywhere
Aside from recruiting the helicopter to find Kaydon, a ground operation was also conducted by a search and rescue team that included nearly 100 first responders who covered 2,000 acres of remote mountainous terrain.
Searching Everywhere
Finding Kaydon
The question, however, was that would they be able to find the young boy before dark? Many searches to begin looking for young Kaydon began. The neighbors heard and joined the search.
Finding Kaydon
Grid Searches
The Blount County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Marian O’Briant said to WVLT News that the ground search teams, together with the military assistance, would search throughout the night if that is what it took to locate Kaydon’s whereabouts.
Grid Searches
The TBI
Ground teams, such as the TBI (Tennessee Bureau of Information), FBI, Blount County Sheriff’s Department, Blount County Search and Rescue Team, Blount County Fire Department, and Blount County Chief Deputy Jeff French, carried out grid searches to find Kaydon.
The TBI
A Community Comes Together
When word got out that Kaydon disappeared, the local community reached out as well. An IPAWS (Integrated Public Alert & Warning System) message was broadcast a few hours later.
A Community Comes Together
Keeping A Close Eye And Ear
The Blount County Emergency Services informed everybody about what was happening and provided updates. The public kept a close eye and ear to stay up to date with the newest discoveries.
Keeping A Close Eye And Ear
A Caring Community
When the members of the local community read the message, they knew that they had to do something seeing as a child’s life was on the line. Their children and grandchildren came to mind, and it definitely struck a chord with them.
A Caring Community
Rallying Around
Aside from the IPAWS message being broadcast, the Blount County community also got wind of what was happening because the news was circulated through the smartphone application Next Door, which provides a somewhat private social network for a neighborhood.
Rallying Around
News Coverage
Some people could not actively help the search, but they rallied around and did whatever they could. A local search volunteer told WVLT News this: “We’re a very tight community. We try to help everyone.”
News Coverage
Missing Boy
The woman continued, “…I got a phone call about what was going on. I was coming up the mountain from work and just shot straight over and did everything I could to help.”
Missing Boy
A Helping Hand
Megan Kessler, one of the residents in the neighborhood, heard about little Kaydon’s disappearance and launched her own initiative to assist the search and rescue emergency and volunteer teams by providing them some food and water.
A Helping Hand
Providing Supplies
She told WVLT News, “We knew it was going to be a long night,” and she added, “We brought coffee, chili, whatever they needed. We wanted to make sure we could supply it. They wouldn’t let us search, so we did what we could.”
Providing Supplies
A Viral Post
Everyone helped out and spread the news, and the Tennessee Endangered Child Alert released a Facebook post that contained a photo of Kaydon Leach along with a description of the child and the surrounding circumstances. The post was also shared by WBIR Channel 10.
A Viral Post
The Power Of Media
Soon after it got updated with more information, the post was shared over 2,000 times and got over 350 reactions. The whole community was clearly in it along with Kaydon’s parents, and the news spread like wildfire.
The Power Of Media
Time Was Running Out
In spite of the search and rescue teams’ strong efforts, with the local volunteers’ assistance, the search appeared to be fruitless. They could not find Kaydon anywhere and it had gotten dark and cold already.
Time Was Running Out
Getting More Worried
They were running out of time and authorities grew concerned about the possibility of Kaydon suffering from a respiratory infection if the boy was not found soon. They had to hurry.
Getting More Worried
An Urgent Search
The little guy was not wearing clothes that were warm enough, and that could be fatal for someone as young as him. This made the search much more urgent. People really got involved now.
An Urgent Search
The Search Continues
The search continued through the next hours, focusing on the area covering a half-mile radius of the home of Kaydon Leach. They had to wait for daylight so that they could expand the search again into the surrounding mountainous and rural area.
The Search Continues
They Hoped He Was Okay
Kaydon’s parents were naturally worried sick about their young son. They felt frightened, nervous, and even guilty for allowing him to play outside. It took some more time, but they later found out that their precious son was fine and not alone.
They Hoped He Was Okay
A Dedicated And Close-Knit Community
The community in Blount County definitely proved how dedicated and close-knit they were by staying up all night, handing out snacks and water to the rescue teams. It was their way of helping out the first responders who were working tirelessly to search for Kaydon.
A Dedicated And Close-Knit Community
They Were Determined To Find Him
They knew Kaydon was out there somewhere, and it was simply a matter of staying dedicated and focused, and not giving up on their mission until the little boy was safe at home. They were definitely not giving up yet.
They Were Determined To Find Him
The Daylight Comes
When the daylight came, it became a little less difficult to search for Kaydon. While it was certainly not an easy task, no one gave up as they were hoping that they would find the little boy safe and sound.
The Daylight Comes
Losing Time
Since the search crews came up with more ideas of places to look, it was time to get down to work and find the missing child as soon as possible. Kaydon’s parents were really worried that their child was alone, scared, and starving, so everybody prayed that he was okay.
Losing Time
No Stone Left Unturned
The search crews also went to the lake to look for Kaydon since he might have fallen in or drowned, though they did not find him anywhere. As the ground search was happening, the Blackhawk helicopter continued the search from the air as well.
No Stone Left Unturned
Covering All Grounds
After the lake, the search teams went to look on the mountainsides and in several abandoned buildings because Kaydon could have hidden in a building overnight to protect himself from the cold. Unfortunately, however, they were not that lucky.
Covering All Grounds
Still Missing
The morning hours passed by and there was still no sign of Kaydon Leach. His parents tried to think of where he could have gone to, or if there was something more sinister that could have happened, the latter of which was extremely rare in their community.
Still Missing
His Parents Didn’t Understand
To Kaydon’s parents, it did not make sense that he had suddenly disappeared since he knew his curfew as well as how far he could venture out in the area. They knew in their hearts that something did not add up.
His Parents Didn’t Understand
Thinking Outside The Box
The rescuers tried to think like a six-year-old boy to know where Kaydon could have gone while he was playing outside. This made them think a little outside the box. They decided to search places and areas that they would not have otherwise considered.
Thinking Outside The Box
Getting Close
They began to look in abandoned buildings within the area and deep in the woods. They had no idea, but they were actually getting closer to finding Kaydon. They felt like they may finally be onto something.
Getting Close
The Woods
When the search crew went into the woods near the community, they scoured the entire area. If the missing young boy was not there, then they had no idea where else Kaydon could have gone.
The Woods
A Startling Noise
As the afternoon wore on, the volunteers knew that they had to continue searching before night fell again. The clock was ticking, but suddenly, they heard a noise that was coming from the woods which piqued their interest.
A Startling Noise
The Growl
Approximately 22 hours after Kaydon Leach went missing, the rescue teams finally had something. They heard a growl that was coming from the woods, and when they moved closer, they could hear the growling grow louder and stronger.
The Growl
What Animal Was It?
Although they did not know what they might see, they continued going after the sound. Since it sounded a lot like the growling of a dog, they had to investigate. However, they were actually in the woods, so there were a lot of possibilities.
What Animal Was It?
Found At Last
The volunteers and search teams was approaching the sound when they suddenly spotted Kaydon. They were just approximately half a mile away from the child’s home, which means he had not gone too far the previous night.
Found At Last
Who Stayed With Him?
The young boy probably lost his bearings, got paralyzed from fear, and decided to stay where he was. However, the biggest surprise to everybody was that Kaydon was not alone the whole time he was missing. Someone was by his side.
Who Stayed With Him?
The Protector
Around 3:30 p.m., Kaydon Leach was found after he had been missing for 22 hours. When rescuers found the young boy, they discovered that the growling came from a black-and-white terrier dog – his faithful pet Chula.
The Protector
Chula Kept Him Safe
BCSO Chief Deputy Jeff French said, “The dog growled at the rescuers when they approached Kaydon, so the dog is a protector.” Chula had truly done her best in keeping Kaydon safe the whole night that they had been in the woods.
Chula Kept Him Safe
Some Medical Attention Needed
When rescuers found Kaydon, he did not look well, and when they asked the young boy how he was feeling and if he was okay, he said, “Very cold.” Since he was only wearing a black T-shirt and gray sweatpants all throughout the cold night, his skin was cold and purple.
Some Medical Attention Needed
They Got Help
In addition, the search team asked him where he lived and when he gave the address, they told Kaydon that they were immediately taking him to safety. He had to get some medical attention while they also needed to attend to Chula the dog.
They Got Help
Very Relieved
Before Kaydon Leach was taken to his home by the first responders, they first took him to Blount Memorial hospital so that medical personnel could evaluate him. They wanted to be sure that he was not suffering from hypothermia or other medical issues before they took him home.
Very Relieved
Couldn’t Believe The Good News
His family was really relieved when they finally saw their precious little Kaydon. They could not believe how brave Chula the dog had been through the entire ordeal. Everything sounded like something from a book or a film.
Couldn’t Believe The Good News
An Official Statement
While Kaydon was getting evaluated at Blount Memorial hospital, the young boy’s family released a statement. At first, there was no information about his condition or the facts behind the boy’s disappearance, but his family wanted to thank the incredible local volunteers and rescue teams.
An Official Statement
A Message Of Thanks
Kaydon’s parents wrote, “We’re so thankful to everyone, from local law enforcement agencies to volunteers, who helped us find Kaydon. The amount of support we have received has been tremendous, even from people we don’t even know. We appreciate all our friends and neighbors, and ask for privacy at this time.”
A Message Of Thanks
Celebration Online
There was much celebration when news of Kaydon’s return reached the media and people on social media. One well-wisher wrote on Facebook, “So glad he was found safe.”
Celebration Online
Outpour Of Support
Another person commented: “I had the little guy on my mind since I found out he was lost. Something he can tell his grandkids, thank God.” An outpour of support like this continued.
Outpour Of Support
His Family Was So Thankful
The community may have spent 22 agonizing hours looking for Kaydon, but their efforts were rewarded when they found him safe, together with his dog, and this piece of news brought joy to those who heard.
His Family Was So Thankful
From Concern To Relief
They were comforted by the fact that the young boy was not alone through the night. The Top of the World community went through a whirlwind of emotions from the time Kaydon went missing to the time he was found – from concern to relief.
From Concern To Relief
A Whirlwind Of Emotions
They remembered their own children, so everybody reached out the best way they could. It was a huge moment for everybody and the whole county when Kaydon was finally found.
A Whirlwind Of Emotions
Safe And Sound
They had been praying to hear that the young boy was back home safe and sound, so they were happy to hear that the nightmare was over. It was broadcasted on every news channel near and far.
Safe And Sound
Thanking Everyone
The sheriff was really thankful when Kaydon Leach was found, and he got very emotional as he was thanking everyone on local TV. He said, “I want to thank all these men and women who spent the last 20 something hours out here in the dark, the cold, and the rain.”
Thanking Everyone
Team Effort
He concluded, “We had the FBI, TBI, Blount County Sheriff’s Department, Blount County Fire Department, Blount County Rescue Squad. It was a team effort and we couldn’t have done it without the help.”
Team Effort
She Saved Him
However, someone else had to be thanked as well. The sheriff thanked Daniel Self, his deputy officer, for helping Chula. Chula was, of course, the little dog who saved her little owner Kaydon.
She Saved Him
The Hero Dog
Self held the dog and ensured she was fine, giving her some food and water. Everybody was thrilled to find out that Chula had been the guardian angel that stayed with Kaydon through the night.
The Hero Dog
A Heroic Dog
A dog’s bond with their human proves insurmountable, particularly during trying times. Chula the dog was really heroic and never left Kaydon even for a minute. She is certainly the reason the little guy made it through the dark and cold night in the woods.
A Heroic Dog
Feeling Ecstatic
Tennessee’s Top of the World community definitely felt like they were on top of the world after Kaydon was found that frantic Tuesday afternoon. The moment the young boy was found in the woods, everything took a 180.
Feeling Ecstatic
He’s Home
Something like this is never easy, but if a community is filled with caring and kind people who help out every step of the way, everything can become easier to deal with. Everyone is definitely ecstatic that Kaydon is now back home safe and sound.
He’s Home
Good Boy
We are also reminded of how amazing our pets are and how much they truly care for us. Without faithful Chula by Kaydon’s side, this story may have ended completely differently.
Good Boy