Every parents worst nightmare is waking up and finding out their child is not asleep and in their bed. For one Indiana family, the nightmare became their reality.
Wandering Off
Abdul Azeem Agboola's parents realized he was not in his bed at 2:30 am. Their home security footage showed him wandering away about an hour earlier.
The search for the 3-year-old boy began around 4 a.m. Madison County law enforcement teamed up with officers around the area to form an over 100 person search crew.
The crew reached 11 a.m. without finding the boy anywhere near his Springbook home. They began to recheck the area looking under trees and other places where a little one can hide.
A Strange Sound
Volunteer firefighter, Justin Harmeson, 20. was directing traffic near the entrance to Summerlake. As he stood outside his car, he heard a soft sound, that almost sounded like crying.
"At the very first I wasn't able to tell what it was, but after multiple times I kept hearing the noise and was able to tell it sounded like a child crying."
Justin Harmeson
Harmeson is also a correctional officer with the Madison County Sheriff's Department, when he is not serving as a volunteer firefighter. He began to look around searching for what was making that sound.
It did not take long for him to see Abdul's tiny face by the edge of the road.
"When I saw him, I instantly started to walk out onto the road, making sure traffic was stopping. When I knew traffic was stopped I ran over there, and as soon as I got over there he instantly raised his arms up toward me."
Justin Harmeson
Getting Him to Safety
According to the Herald Bulletin, Harmeson grabbed the child and took him back across the roadway, placing him in the back seat of his car. He alerted other officers that he had found the little boy. It had been nearly nine hours since he went missing.
Harmeson said the little boy was cold and wet, since he was sitting right next to a drain with his feet and legs in water. The morning saw temps as low as 30- 40 degrees.
Paramedics took him to the hospital for a check-up.
Right Place, Right Time
Harmeson was in the right place and the right time. thankfully, he was able to hear the little boy over the sounds of the traffic and bring him to safety.