A 5-year-old Arizona boy who went missing when he wandered away from his mother as he chased grasshoppers at a campsite, is believed to be dead after an exhaustive search and rescue effort by hundreds of volunteers, police said.
Jerold Joseph Williams was camping with his parents and 15-20 other friends and family members in Jacob Lake, Arizona, August 6 when he wandered out of his mother's view —just 100-200 yards from their campsite, police said.
Over the course of five days, the Coconino County Sheriff's Office estimates, over 535 volunteers came out to look for the lost tot but their hopes were all dashed when his body was discovered Monday evening, according to spokesman Gerry Blair.
"A member of our search team did find a body of a child," Blair said. "We have not officially identified the child but we believe it is Jerold Williams."
The boy and his family are from nearby Colorado City, where many volunteers reacted quickly to the search, officials said.
Over 20 different agencies provided support for the search efforts including a group of Air Force Pararescuers who used thermal imaging during night searches.
A cause of death was not immediately disclosed.