Autistic boy reported missing north of Logan County is found deceased

UPDATE @ 2:30 p.m. (Feb. 26):

An extensive search began following the report just after 3 p.m. Friday that a 13-year-old autistic boy was missing from his home on Township Road 55 near Ada, Ohio, according to the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office.

Samuel Rowold was identified as non-verbal and believed to be wearing only a T-shirt and sweatpants and was shoeless when he went missing, deputies said.

Divers discovered his body around 7 p.m. in a nearby pond, approximately 20 feet from shore.

The search for Samuel involved numerous law enforcement officers, firefighters and EMS and helicopters from the Ohio State Highway Patrol and LifeFlight; the Hardin County Joint Dive Team; and friends, family and neighbors.

UPDATE @ 9:02 p.m.: The boy was recovered from a pond a short distance from his residence, the Hardin County Sheriff's Office posted on its Facebook page.

UPDATE @ 8:45 p.m.: Samuel Rowold, an autistic boy listed as endangered missing in Hardin County, has been located deceased, according to the Ohio Missing Children Clearinghouse, with the state attorney general's office.

No details have been given about the circumstances of the boy’s death.

We are working to find out more about what happened to Samuel.

INITIAL REPORT

The public is asked to help find a missing 13-year-old boy described as autistic and non-verbal who wandered away this afternoon shoeless.

The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office issued an endangered missing child advisory to help find Samuel Rowold.

Samuel is described as friendly and answers to Sam, stands 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 180 pounds with black hair in a buzz cut and brown eyes, according to the sheriff’s office.

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He is of Filipino descent and was last seen about 2:30 p.m. on 726 Township Road 55 in Hardin County.

He was wearing a blue jacket, blue T-shirt with the faded letters EMS or an EMS logo on it and blue jeans.

This is not an Amber Alert, but Samuel is believed to be in danger, according to the sheriff’s office.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office at 419-673-1268.

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