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Sam Penrod ReportingA five-year old boy was abducted while walking home from school today in Mapleton, Utah. He's been found, but at some distance from where he was taken.
It’s been a very frightening night for parents in Mapleton, especially for the parents of a five-year old boy, who appears to have been abducted this afternoon as he was walking home from school at Hobble Creek Elementary in Mapleton.
Mapleton police were contacted about six o’clock tonight with a report that the five year old boy had not returned home from school. The volunteer fire department was called out to do a door to door search of the neighborhood in case the boy had lost time and was playing with friends.
Then tonight at seven o'clock a man called 911 to report he'd found a young boy wandering alone in the mountains, specifically Diamond Fork Canyon which is several miles away.
The boy's wrists had been taped, his shirt was ripped and he appeared to be very scared. He's being checked out at the hospital tonight and detectives are looking for any possible suspects.
Sgt. Scott Gardner, Mapleton Police Dept.: “We’re talking with witnesses, crossing guards, etc”
Clearly the age of the boy and the fact he was found so far away from home in a remote area with his hands taped together has police calling this an abduction. Police at this point aren't saying why the boy was abuducted.
Police are asking that anyone who may have seen anything suspicious near the school or in Diamond Fork Canyon call Mapleton police.
Again this young boy appears to be okay and is safe tonight, but it's been a very scary night for everyone in the community.
