"Riding on a Pet Dog to Move?"... Mystery of a Missing 2-Year-Old in the US Traveling 5km

Found Asleep Leaning on Pet Dog in the Forest

A two-year-old girl went missing from her home in Michigan, USA, and was found about 3 miles (4.83 km) away in the woods after 4 hours. Local police speculate that the child moved by riding on one of the dogs that disappeared with her.

Thea Chase and her pet dog found 4.8km away after 4 hours of disappearance [Photo by Facebook]

According to CNN and other foreign media on the 24th (local time), Brooke Chase, who lives in the small northern Michigan town of Payson, reported to the police that her two-year-old daughter Thea and two pet dogs went missing around 8 p.m. on the 20th.

Brooke Chase thought her daughter, who was playing in the yard, had been taken inside by her brother-in-law, but they soon realized the child was not at home. After searching thoroughly around the house for about 20 minutes without finding the child, they informed the police.

Michigan police, who responded to the report, believed the child was in the nearby forested area and launched a large-scale search using rescue teams, police dogs, and drones.

The child was found in the woods around midnight on the 20th, four hours after the report was received. CNN reported that while the rescue team was searching the woods in an all-terrain vehicle, one of the dogs that had disappeared with the child started barking as the vehicle passed by, leading to the discovery of the child.

The police explained that when rescued, the child was barefoot and was peacefully sleeping leaning against a dog a little away from the walking trail. The outside temperature at the time was 15 to 16 degrees Celsius, and subsequent medical examinations confirmed that the child had no significant health issues.

In an interview with the media, Brooke Chase said, "My mind went blank while the search team was looking for my daughter," and added, "When Thea came home, she giggled and greeted me saying, 'Mom, hello.'"

Local media questioned how the two-year-old child managed to travel as far as 3 miles from home. In response, Michigan police stated, "The best conclusion we have is that the child likely went for a barefoot walk with the dogs at dusk and moved by riding on one of the dogs."

The two dogs that disappeared with the child are known to be a Rottweiler and an English Springer.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.