Missing 3-Year-Old Casey Hathaway Found Alive in North Carolina

After vanishing from his grandmother’s yard on Tuesday, Casey is reportedly healthy, smiling, and “asking to watch Netflix.”

January 25, 2019

Casey Hathaway [Craven County Sheriff’s Department]

By: Mike McPadden

ERNUL, N.C. – A toddler who disappeared in North Carolina on Tuesday was recovered alive Thursday night by a search-and-rescue team. The boy has been reunited with family members and is reportedly in good condition.

This past Tuesday afternoon, three-year-old Casey Hathaway was playing with two other children in the backyard of his grandmother’s home in Craven County. At around 1:40 p.m., the grandmother called the kids into the house, and two of them responded—but Casey was nowhere to be found. The grandmother and another relative frantically tried to locate Casey for the next 45 minutes, and then called the police to report him missing. A massive search effort immediately kicked off, with the FBI joining local authorities, professional rescuers, and other community members in looking for the missing boy.

Finally, on Thursday night, a tip about a crying child led searchers to a heavily wooded area where they saw Casey, entangled in a patch of briers, yelling for his mother. Rescuers freed the boy and rushed him to safety. Several hours later, Chocowinity EMS Captain Shane Grier announced the good news at a press conference, saying: “It's a great evening, folks. We brought Casey to his family, just like we said we were going to do. We did not give up. We were very persistent. Little fella is happy. His parents are happy as well. When he saw his little sister, had a big smile on his face. I'll tell you it's just very, very touching.”

Casey was taken to Carolina East Medical Center in New Bern to be evaluated. No evidence has been found at present to suggest he was abducted, but police will continue to investigate the circumstances. By all accounts so far, Casey suffered no physical harm and his spirit is upbeat. Addressing the press conference, Casey’s mother Brittany Hathaway expressed profound gratitude to everyone who aided in her son’s recovery and added: "He's good, he's good, he's up and talking, he's already asking to watch Netflix.”

Read more: ABC News, USA Today, People, WCTI

Next Up

Have You Seen Missing Teenagers Asia Wilbon Or Mackenzie Marken?

Both girls vanished during the night from their families’ homes.

Indigenous Student Ashley Loring HeavyRunner Still Missing

Her sister vows “to keep standing for our missing so that one day that we will be seen as the same — as important.”

Colorado Police Searching For Woman Who Went Missing After Her First Night In Denver

After 32-year-old Indigenous woman Christine Tail moved to Denver with her girlfriend, she mysteriously went missing on June 14, 2023, within her first day in the city.

Mystery Surrounds Case Of California Woman Who Went Missing At A Yoga Retreat In Guatemala

Nancy Ng's family is desperately trying to find answers after the 29-year-old disappeared during a swim while kayaking on Lake Atitlán in Guatemala.

Louisiana Woman Disappears While Road Tripping To Colorado To Start New Life

“Our family will never give up looking for our daughter,” the parents of Caitlyn Rose Case say.

Search For Missing Tennessee Girl Whose Aunt Also Disappeared In 2009 Continues

5-year-old Summer Wells disappeared in 2021, 12 years after her aunt, Rose Marie Bly, went missing. Reports suggest that the two unsolved cases are not connected.

‘She Just Vanished’: Indiana Woman Goes Missing After Night Out With Friends

In January 2021, Kirsten Brueggeman, 26, was last seen on surveillance video walking in an area not far from a popular pub.

Tara Calico, Missing Since 1988, Might Have Been Spotted In A Mysterious Polaroid

Tara Calico's last words to her mother were, “Mom, if I'm not back by 12, come look for me."

Where’s Chelsea Grimm? California Woman Vanishes While On Road Trip To Attend Wedding

“We are trying our best to hold onto positive outcome scenarios and put our faith in the authorities,” Stephen Grimm says about his missing daughter.

Family Seeks Answers In Case Of Missing Indigenous Washington Woman

“It’s really hard not knowing,” says the sister of Mary Johnson, who vanished at the end of 2020.