BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Frank and Frankie Orwig embraced Friday afternoon after the Brevard Sheriff’s Office said the 4-year-old was missing for four hours.
At the family’s home on a private driveway at Burgess Avenue and Quarno Road, Mr. Orwig told News 6 he was taking a nap when it all started at 9 o’clock.
The search on Friday was centered around Burgess Avenue, north of Camp Road and west of U.S. 1, in unincorporated Cocoa, according to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.
“Oh, my God I was terrified,” the father recalled. “He wasn’t nowhere to be found.”
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As time passed and the large search continued, neighbors worried more.
“It’s scary because there’s so much woods, the ponds and the railroad tracks,” Patricia Wilson said.
Ultimately, Orwig said his son was found in the woods, but on his property and Frankie was perfectly fine. The boy wasn’t even alone while he was missing. Orwig said the family dog, Rufus, stayed by his side.
“That dog is loyal to that kid,” he said. “I ran up to him. I wouldn’t even let him go. I was crying so bad.”
The sheriff’s office later posted video of deputies finding the 4-year-old on social media.
Orwig also expressed his emotions to detectives after being interviewed.
“They were just asking me if he was OK and how he checked out in the ambulance and if I thought he needed counseling,” Orwig said. “He thinks he was just on a big adventure or vacation or something.”
In a statement, Sheriff Wayne Ivey commended those who shared news of the boy’s disappearance and who partnered with the sheriff’s office to find him.
“Our Helicopter Pilot and Tactical Flight Officer spotted the child in a heavily wooded area and was able to direct our search and rescue teams on the ground to his location,” Ivey said.