Missing Boy, 14, Located Just a Mile from His N.C. Home After Multi-Day Search, Police Say ‘He Didn’t Want to Be Found’

A 14-year-old boy from North Carolina has been found alive after being missing for more than two days — but authorities say they’re still working to understand exactly what happened.

On Saturday, Jan. 17, the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office said Gideon Ferguson was located safe and was being evaluated by medical personnel following an “around-the-clock” search involving hundreds of law enforcement officers, search and rescue teams, and the FBI.

According to the FBI, Ferguson was reported missing from his home in Cleveland, N.C., on Wednesday, Jan. 14.

Investigators said his grandmother dropped him off at home after school at around 3:30 p.m. local time. His mother reported him missing roughly an hour later.

Officials said during a press conference on Saturday, Jan. 17, that Ferguson was found about a mile and a half from his home after days of searching.

Authorities said the investigation remains active. While officials believe the teen left the house on his own, they said it’s still unclear whether anyone else may have been involved.

“During the course of this investigation, we [found] there was indications at the home, not of a forced entry, but a person that had left a lot of things such as his phone and other technology that you would assume people would take with them if they left,” Sheriff Darren Campbell said during the press conference.

Campbell added that investigators determined Ferguson intentionally left his phone behind. The sheriff also said the teen appeared to try to avoid being located by hiding in nearby wooded areas that were outside law enforcement’s initial search radius.

He later moved back into the search area on Saturday, Campbell said.

Officials noted that Ferguson was still recovering after spending more than two days outside as temperatures dropped to around 15 degrees with wind chill.

Campbell said Ferguson appeared to have left because he “just wanted to be alone” — but investigators are still trying to piece together why he stayed away for so long.

“He just didn’t want to be found,” Campbell said. “There had been some issues that had happened earlier that day … not including the family. This was another issue, and I think in his way of thinking, he just wanted to be alone at that point.”

In a statement shared on Facebook, the sheriff’s office said the investigation is continuing. Campbell also asked anyone with information about Ferguson’s whereabouts during the time he was missing to contact authorities.

“Our investigation does not end with his safe recovery. We will continue to help bring answers to what type of situation this child has encountered since he was discovered missing on January 14, 2026,” the sheriff’s office concluded its statement. “Right now, most importantly, he is safe.”