Where is Joshua Childers?

Searchers are now into their third day of looking for Childers, a 3-year-old who wandered away from his family's home near Arcadia, Mo. Authorities have cleared a few nearby ponds, and volunteers have combed through some wooded areas. They've found nothing but a tennis shoe the boy was wearing.

Comments

[april]

has anyone checked any nearby homes or sheds or outbuildings he may be hiding?

[mae]

god bless that baby, wherever he is.

[Mikeybackwards]

This is a tragic event and I hope the child is found safe.

However, we have seen numerous cases of parents and caregivers (babysitters, etc.) charged and convicted for allowing children to wander off. When is the adult responsible for allowing this child to wander off going to face charges of neglect and/or child endangerment.

[George]

This was sent to me, just passing it on:

Dear Business Members,

The extension office will be coordinating volunteers to help search for Joshua Childers. Please call the extension office if you would like to help. They search needs to be coordinated so PLEASE call 783-3303 instead of heading to county rd 518. The shifts will be for 9 hours each.

If you need more information call 783-3303.

[terry baxter]

When my grown son was 18 months, I put him down for his nap. I was busy in the other room, but I could see his bedroom door and knew he would have to pass me to get outside. A neighbor found him out in the street and brought him home. He had climbed out of his crib, opened the bedroom window, and climbed out. The whole time I thought he was sleeping.

[Kim]

I have a 3 1/2 year old son.. I am very concerned that he has seemingly disappeared without a trace? I can't imagine how far a little boy his age would wander without shouting or crying for help, as soon as he realized he was lost. (especially if the parents were looking for him not long after he disappeared) I am certain volunteers have been calling his name as they search for him....It just all sounds very unsettling. I thought the boy was only wearing a T-shirt and a diaper, I wasn't aware he was wearing tennis shoes when he wandered off? If this is the case, you would think he wouldn't be far from his missing shoe, because of the terrain. I know my son wouldn't want to walk on twigs and thistles in only a sock or bare foot. I hope this little boy is found safe. Has anyone thought to look in near by car trunks, they lock from the inside. *If* a neighbor had a trunk open, and he crawled inside to play? I do have an over active imagination, but I hope they are looking everywhere...not just down, but up too! Boys like to climb trees!

[Barbara Summers]

Praise God, Josh was found around 4 p.m., alive and well!

[Nichole]

I am SO glad they found him. This is to the person who mentioned neglect. I don't know if you have kids or not but if you do then I'm sure you realize how quickly they can wander off. I do NOT believe that these parents were neglectful at all! Dad was naping after a long day and mom was distracted for an instant. It happens to the best of parents. I hope it never happens to you.

[Pam'la Cowan]

I live and pastor in the area where the boy wandered away. The parents are good parents. The boy was very introverted and shy - and would not respond, I believe, to strangers. I am thankful he was found - so easy for a simple moment of life to turn into a tragedy - or- in this case, a miracle.

[Mikeybackwards]

Nicole & Pamela Cowan

Child neglect charges are frequently brought in cases like this where a parent - for whatever reason - lets a child wander away in conditions that can lead to the harm of the child. Neglect is not intentional behavior hence the term neglect.

Further, a momentarily distracted parent doesn't not lose their own 3 y/o child from their own home for 3 days.

It is very fortunate that this child was found. As cool as evenings have been, rain, the scant clothing, these parents are very lucky the child did not die of exposure or thirst.

[Nichole]

Mikeybackwards:

First of all, I'm not real clear on your meaning in your second paragraph, but from what I can glean you either do not have children, you have children and you smother them by constantly hovering over them, or this just hasn't happened to you yet. Don't be so quick to judge. This child is very lucky and I stand by my earlier comment. This happens to the best of parents and I do not believe that this is a neglected child, either intentionally or otherwise.

[Mikeybackwards]

Nichole -

It is one thing for a parent to lose track of one's child for a few moments. It is neglect for a parent to lose track of a 3 y/o at one's own home to the point where that child wanders off and has gone so far that the parent, nor police and searchers can find the child for 3 days. That is what child gates, door locks, fences, gates, playpens, etc. are for; to keep a toddler where the parent wants the child to be so the child does not wander into an unsafe area, or out of the home or yard as happened in this case. Due to these parents not using due prudence - their child wandered off, was lost for three days, requiring a large amount of time, money, and resources to locate this child, plus medical care to heal the child of the dehydration and exposure that occurred all because these parents were too lazy to shut or lock a door or gate.

This is neglectful behavior. The parents may have never been neglectful in the past, but they were in this case.

They are lucky the child didn't die. I fully expect that neglect and or child endangerment charges will be filed and if the child would have died then the charge would have been neglectful homicide.