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TAYLORSVILLE — It was a terrifying first day of school for the family of a 5-year-old Taylorsville boy, whose disappearance prompted a massive search. It took more than two hours for police, teachers and family members to track him down.
The parents of Kash Bowerbank said they went to pick him up at the end of the school day and saw him inside the school from their car. Seconds later, he was gone.
"You're looking everywhere and you can't see him and see the other kids and he's not there," said Nikki Bowerbank, Kash's stepmother. "It's the worst feeling ever."
Nikki and her husband Jeremy began searching Oquirrh Hills Elementary. Officers from the Granite School District and Unified Police Department patrolled the area.
"They were unbelievably helpful," said Jeremy. "I've never seen so many police officers come so quickly."
You're looking everywhere and you can't see him and see the other kids and he's not there. It's the worst feeling ever.
–Nikki Bowerbank, Kash's stepmother
Nikki's sister Kimberly Manore drove from 45 minutes away to help.
"All I could think was ‘Oh my gosh, please don't find him dead,'" she said.
An hour passed without any sign of Kash.
"Anybody's worst nightmare," said Nikki.
It took 30 more minutes for police to find him at a nearby playground, prompting a tearful reunion for both mom and dad.
"I was playing on the playground," Kash said. "I was scared."
Kash told police he was dropped at the playground by a school bus.
"Apparently he jumped out of line and ran toward the buses with his friend," said Jeremy.
It's not uncommon for a student to go off with a friend, said Ben Horsley with the Granite School District.
"There was an aide there overlooking the lines," he said. "We're not sure if she didn't see him jump the line or not. We'll obviously talk to those individuals and the bus driver and make sure protocol was followed."
Horsley said the safety of each student is top priority. Fortunately, what started off as a good first day of school also ended that way.
