BUSHNELL, FL (352today.com) – The search is over for a missing Sumter County teen who has autism.
“It’s the best possible outcome,” said Pat Breeden, undersheriff for the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.
Breeden said a bloodhound found 16-year-old Peyton Pickard in neck deep water in a swampy area less than a mile from his home.
He was dehydrated, covered in bug bites and had some scratches but doing reasonably well, according to Breeden.
“He walked out on his own once we got him out of the water,” said Breeden. “Somebody had a Gatorade and gave it to him. He was very thirsty.”
Breeden said Peyton was taken to a hospital for check-ups and observation.
By the time he was found, he had been missing nearly 24 hours, wearing only his boxer-style underwear. Peyton is also non-verbal, meaning he doesn’t speak so he would not have been able to shout for help or respond to search crews calling his name.
“We didn’t lose hope. But we always have concerns because of the amount of time and the terrain,” explained Breeden who said the area along the Withlacoochee River is unforgiving. “We’re right on the river. It’s all swamp and all mud and it’s really dense vegetation.”
Breeden said the bloodhound that tracked Peyton down is one of the newest to the K-9 unit.
“We actually just completed training,” said Breeden. “It did an amazing job.”
Breeden expressed gratitude to the hundreds of law enforcement personnel from multiple agencies and civilian volunteers who aided in the search. A command post was set up in the parking lot of the Wahoo Baptist Church in Bushnell to coordinate the search effort.
Earlier in the day, Breeden told 352today’s Ben Baugh that not uncharacteristic for Peyton to disappear for brief periods of time but usually stays close to home. He had done just that on Saturday night, May 25.
“His father lets him try to live as normal a life as he can. He is autistic and at some point, he wandered off,” said Breeden who added he thinks Peyton got confused and ended up in the swamp.