The frantic search for an Oregon boy has entered its third day as fears grow for the well-being of Dane Paulsen, 2, who vanished from his home while playing in the front yard on Saturday afternoon.
A massive community-wide effort is underway as almost 100 certified search and rescue members were enlisted to comb the rural community of Siletz.
A gold station wagon and an adult man were spotted near a bridge close to the toddler’s home when he vanished.
Police asked the community to keep an eye out for the car, and announced on Sunday that a public tip led to the discovery of the suspect.
After an investigation, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said they were no longer considering the man a point of interest.
Authorities are pleading with the public for any information that could lead to Dane’s location.
Police issued an update on Monday night notifying the community that search efforts would continue into the evening and throughout the day on Tuesday.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office warned volunteers not to search after dark and avoid the primary search area as to not disrupt the rescue team’s methodical search.
Dane Paulsen, 2, vanished from his home in Siletz, Oregon at 4:25 pm on Saturday
The child has brown hair, green eyes, and was last seen wearing a grey fuzzy hoody with black pants
Dale’s family lives in Siletz, Oregon where the toddler vanished on Saturday in broad daylight
So far, search teams have covered 311 miles of ground and searched 682 acres, 230 of which were conducted by volunteers from the community.
Four watercrafts have also been used in the search along with 13 divers, four drones, six canines, and 40 investigators, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. The Siletz River and acres of forested land were the focus of the search.
Several law enforcement agencies have joined the sheriff’s office in the investigation including, the Oregon State Police, the Lincoln City Police Department, Newport PD, the FBI, and Siletz Valley fire.
Dane’s mom, Cha Met, posted a heartbreaking message on her Facebook account, pleading with the public for help.
‘Our baby is missing name his is Dane he’s 2 years old he look like he’s 3 or 4 he was wearing navy blue shoes with two stars white socks black sweats with a dark blue zip up hooded fleece with teddy bear ears on the hood of his zip up,’ she wrote on Sunday.
Met also reposted details on the search and wrote, ‘We need all the man power we can get when light hits if you’d like to help us find our baby boy please show up.’
A community member, Casey Navarro, shared her love for the family on social media, writing to the public, ‘My heart has been in shambles all night over Dane.
‘Cha Met (Dane’s mom) is such a wonderful person. Shes the kind of person who shows up at your house to tell your older kid she got baby chickens and takes your toddler too so she doesn’t feel left out.’
The toddler is said to be ‘friendly and fearless’ and loves the water but can’t swim
Friends of the family have posted photos of Dane on social media to raise awareness following the toddler’s disappearance
Members of the community are encouraged to help with volunteer search efforts and notify authorities if they have any information on Dane’s whereabouts
The Elks Toketee Illahee campground is serving as the home base for community search efforts.
Community volunteers meet up at the campground and split off into groups to crawl through the woods in hopes of seeing something that will lead to Dane’s location.
Elks Lodge member Jeff Lawrence leads groups of volunteers through the woods and instructs them to treat the area like a crime scene if they find a toddler.
‘Put a jacket or a blanket over and send somebody right away,’ he instructed the volunteers, according to Oregon Live.
‘Most of us have kids,’ volunteer Mike Lambert told the publication. ‘Kind of gut-wrenching,’ he added.
Dane was last seen at 4:25 pm outside his home on Siletz River Highway. He was wearing a grey fuzzy hoody with ears, blue and white shoes, and black pants. The two-year-old has brown hair and green eyes.
Authorities have covered 311 miles and searched 682 acres of Siletz, Oregon
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office reports Dane was last seen playing near milepost 21 on Siletz River Highway, also known as Oregon Route 229
The sheriff’s office said over 140 community members have assisted in volunteer search efforts to find Dane
The Elks Toketee Illahee campground is serving as a home base for search and rescue efforts
‘At the time of Dane’s disappearance, he was playing in the front yard of their residence and out of sight of his parents,’ the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
‘Dane is friendly and fearless, and is comfortable around strangers and water, but cannot swim. Dane is known to love water and vehicles.’
Anyone with information on Dane’s whereabouts is asked to call the tip line at 541-265-0669. The sheriff’s office determined that the case didn’t meet the requirements to issue an Amber Alert.
‘Once again, we thank our community for their compassion and assistance. Our team and the community are working to bring Dane home,’ the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
Dailymail.com reached out to the sheriff’s office for an update on the case but didn’t immediately hear back.
