Missing Forest Grove Boy Found Cold but Unharmed

The boy was located shortly after midnight.

Nine-year-old Joseph Schneider was located unharmed after several hours. Photo: Washington County Sheriff

(MANNING, Ore.) - Officials say a nine-year-old Forest Grove boy who was visiting family friends became lost in the Manning area Wednesday night. He was found nine hours later, cold but unharmed, according to Washington County Sheriff's Office Spokesman, Sgt. David Thompson

He says Wednesday at about 3:00 p.m., nine-year-old Joseph Schneider went missing from a family friend's house in a rural part of western Washington County.

"Joseph and his family were visiting friends at their house located at 53240 NW Gheen Road in Manning. Joseph decided to go for a walk and didn't come back to the house."

Thompson says Joseph's parents became worried about him and started to look for him.

"After they were unsuccessful in finding the boy, they called the Washington County Sheriff's Office. The search and rescue Explorer post 877 was mobilized along with several other volunteer search and rescue teams."

Shortly after midnight on Thursday, a neighbor who was riding an ATV, and looking for Joseph, found him approximately two miles from where he was last seen, Thompson said.

He had been next to a logging road and came out when he heard the ATV.

"Joseph was taken back to his parents and examined for any injuries. Joseph was cold but otherwise unharmed. At the time Joseph was found the temperature was 40 degrees and it had started raining."

Thompson says he had been dressed in two T-shirts and blue jeans, and was not prepared to spend the night in the woods.