Florida authorities have released more information about a toddler who wandered away from home Thursday morning while his mother was sleeping.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, the 2-year-old boy has blond curly hair and was last seen wearing dark grey pants and a Batman shirt.
Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis identified the boy Thursday afternoon as Joshua “JJ” Rowland and said he had not been found despite an extensive search with horses, drones, helicopters K-9s, ATVs, and at least 50 first responders from surrounding agencies.
JJ’s mother said she last saw him at about 10 a.m., and a witness reported seeing him playing in his yard in Brooksville about an hour later.
“We don’t know if he’s on the move or maybe hunkered down somewhere and is hiding, fell asleep, playing with some animal, we don’t know,” Hernando County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Denise Maloney said, according to WTVT. “It was reported that he walked out the door while mom, and he was sleeping. I don’t know if he woke up and just left, not sure.”
MISSING TWO-YEAR-OLD MALE.
TODDLER LEFT RESIDENCE WHILE HIS PARENT WAS ASLEEP. TIME LAPSE IS ONE HOUR.
LAST SEEN WEARING A GRAY BATMAN SHIRT & DARK GRAY PANTS. WHITE MALE WITH BLONDE HAIR.
RESIDENTS IN THE GENERAL AREA ARE ASKED TO CHECK THEIR PROPERTIES.
CALL 911 IF SEEN. pic.twitter.com/XmRnlvSnnS
— Hernando Sheriff (@HernandoSheriff) February 23, 2023
Maloney said there are several barns and other structures in the area, which is surrounded by trees a brush. “The woods here are so very thick,” she said. “So people who live in this area can check their own property and call 911.”
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[Featured image: Joshua “JJ” Rowland/Hernando County Sheriff’s Office]