Noah Chamberlin Update: Authorities Believe Missing Tennessee Toddler Is In Area Being Searched
Noah Chamberlin, the missing Tennessee toddler who vanished last Thursday, still hasn’t been found as hundreds of people continue searching for him. No reported signs of the toddler have turned up on day four of the search.
The Jackson Sun reports that authorities believe the missing 2-year-old is in the area being searched. Chester County Sheriff Blair Weaver says he has faith that Noah Chamberlin will be found.
“We’re very optimistic that he’s in the search area,” Weaver said.
Noah Chamberlin with his family. The 2yo went missing while in the woods with his grandmother and sister #FindNoah pic.twitter.com/6LZpLdGBo3
— WREG News Channel 3 (@3onyourside) January 18, 2016
Weaver isn’t revealing whether there’s been any trace of the missing Tennessee toddler. He and Madison County Sheriff John Mehr held a press conference at Pinson Baptist Church late Monday morning, saying this is still a search and rescue mission. At this point, it’s not a criminal investigation.
Weaver didn’t address whether deer or trail cameras in the wooded area showed Noah Chamberlin before he went missing. He did share that searchers have combed through caves, used search dogs extensively, and checked the sex offender list.
The approximately 1,000 acre search is the focus of trying to find the missing 2-year-old boy. The search area is expanding more as each day moves forward. It’s now the fourth day in the search and rescue operation for Noah. Between 200 and 300 agencies are assisting authorities and volunteers in looking for the child.
Weaver also said in the press conference that Noah Chamberlin’s entire family has been interviewed. No one is interested in addressing the media at this time.
The hardest part of the search is the rough terrain facing the majority of searchers, according to Mehr and Weaver. They’ve asked people in the area to look in spots a child might seek refuge… such as cars, garages, barns, crawl spaces, etc.
Weaver said the search for Noah Chamberlin is making everyone “tired,” but “not frustrated.”
“… It’s not frustration, its we’re tired,” Weaver said. “We’ve been out 70 hours, Sheriff Mehr and myself, before we went home. We have dedication to find Noah and we have a faith and belief that we’re going to find him. We’re doing everything possibly human to find him.”
The harsh cold weather temporarily suspended volunteer search efforts Sunday night, according to Madison County Sheriff Office spokesman Tom Mapes. When the search commenced Monday morning, it was only searchers with law enforcement that continued on.
#FindNoah: Tennessee Authorities In Desperate Search For Toddler Noah Chamberlin, Please… https://t.co/t8moqdBhqV pic.twitter.com/TGUEliwGA7
— Tommy Garrett (@LightfootInHwd) January 18, 2016
Mapes is urging people not to jump to conclusions based on posts they read on social media.
“Don’t go crazy on all these speculative wild claims,” Mapes said. “That just fuels uncertainty. We may be slow coming out with it, but what we come out with is the truth.”
Noah Chamberlin went missing around 1:20 p.m. on Thursday afternoon when he was on a nature walk with his grandmother and 4-year-old sister. The area in Pinson was located behind Noah’s grandparents’ home. His grandmother temporarily lost sight of him when she had to tend to his sister. The home is located at the 1800 block of Short Road.
Weaver told WMC Action 5 News that foul play is not suspected at this time in the investigation.
“None whatsoever,” Weaver said. “We have no reason to believe there’s any foul play.”
Noah was reportedly last seen wearing a long-sleeved gray shirt and blue jeans. He is described as being 2-feet-tall and weighing about 25 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes. If anyone has seen Noah Chamberlin or has any information on his whereabouts, please call Chester County Sheriff’s Office at (731) 989-2787 or TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND FREE.
[Photo via Help Find Noah Chamberlin/Facebook]
