Six-year-old Roman Heilman, who vanished from his home in Louisa, Kentucky, has been found alive after three days in dense woodland. The non-verbal autistic boy was discovered by volunteer horseback searchers and is now being evaluated by paramedics.
Rescue in the Woods
Roman was wrapped in a bright orange emergency blanket and held by a relative when rescuers found him hiding in thick forest. A radio transmission captured the moment of discovery: 'Tower be advised we have found the missing child and he is alive,' a rescuer broadcast. 'We have located the child.'
Volunteers described the boy as 'tougher than pig iron.' One woman laughed with joy, telling him, 'You are going to be famous baby.'
Community Response
Roman is thought to have walked away from his parents' home on Tadpole Road around 4pm Sunday. Hundreds of people joined police in searching the thick forests and swollen river banks in the area. Search teams with drones and a helicopter were dispatched, and on Monday searchers found a diaper, pants, and jacket that the boy had been wearing.
Erin Evans, a volunteer and retired teacher, said community members who were not physically searching dropped off supplies for crews. 'Some people have driven by and just dropped off food, water, flashlights, ponchos,' Evans said. 'So I'm just so proud of our community for coming out. That's what we do in Lawrence County, and this whole area.'
Medical Evaluation
Evans said she joined the effort because, as a grandparent, she would want the same support if one of her grandchildren went missing. 'It doesn't matter who it is. Everybody is going to come out and do something,' she said. 'We're all gonna do this no matter who it is and what the situation is.'
Police say Roman is currently being evaluated by paramedics, with additional details expected after his medical evaluation.
