5-Year-Old Oregon Boy Who Vanished While Mom Napped Found Dead Less than 2 Miles from Home, Officials Say

Mar. 15, 2025

Joshua McCoy.Photo:Coos County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook

Coos County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook

A 5-year-old boywho went missing last week in Oregonhas been found dead.

The body of Joshua James McCoy, who was last seen at his home in Hauser, Ore., on the evening of Saturday, Nov. 9, was found less than two miles away around 12:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Nov. 12, the Coos County Sheriff’s Office said in anews release.

“It is with immense sadness that we have to report that missing Joshua McCoy has been found deceased,” officials wrote.

Missing McCoy was found deceased on Nov. 12.Coos County Sheriff’s Office Facebook

Coos County Sheriff’s Office Facebook

A pond at the home “was drained and nothing of interest was located,” sheriff’s officials wrote of their search for the boy.

His cause of death remains unknown at this time, authorities wrote onFacebooklater on Tuesday. They added that no one is currently in custody.

Joshua, who had autism, went missing when his mother took a nap at around 1 p.m. local time on Nov. 9, according to the sheriff’s office. When she awoke around 5:30 p.m., she couldn’t find him.

Per the report, he responded to “Josh” or “Joshie,” although he “may not respond when called to.”

Coos County Sheriff’s Office.Coos County Sheriff’s Office Facebook

Early on in the search, authorities confirmed that “some clues were found,” but noted “nothing definitive” was located. Aerial support and K-9 resources had also been used in an attempt to locate Joshua.

The sheriff’s office said on Tuesday that deputies and volunteers “continued the search and rescue operation” for Joshua on Monday, Nov. 11. Several members of local fire departments and additional assistance joined “from several counties within Oregon and California” before they found the boy the next day.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“The areas that have been searched have been very thorough and methodical due to the circumstances behind the disappearance," the sheriff’s office wrote. “We have had amazing support from the community in feeding all of these volunteers.”

The investigation is ongoing.

source: people.com