Found: 10-Year-Old Lakeside Boy No Longer Missing

Updated December 9 at 12 p.m.

A 10-year-old Lakeside boy with a learning disability who was missing overnight Saturday returned home safe Sunday, and investigators learned he stayed the night at another child's residence, sheriff's officials said.

Andrew Hodges was not wearing socks or shoes when he left his apartment complex at 9729 Channel Road about 8 p.m. Saturday after he had an argument with his mother, according to a San Diego County Sheriff's Department statement.

He had mentioned going to nearby Lindo Lake County Park, although he was not allowed to leave the complex. Andrew has a learning disability, but does not take medications, sheriff's officials said.

Andrew's mother and brother looked for him, but did not find him. They called the sheriff's department about 11:30 p.m. Saturday, according to sheriff's Sgt. David Hale.

Deputies searched the area without success, then requested a Search and Rescue team, Hale said. A helicopter search Saturday night was not possible due to inclement weather, but one was brought to help search this morning.

The overnight search concentrated along Channel Road, near the state Route 67 overpass. The apartment house is near Woodside at Maine avenues.

Deputies contacted Andrew's friends in the area and made sweeps of the neighborhood, parks and nearby schools. Sheriff's department personnel including detectives, search and rescue teams with dogs and deputies from Santee and Lakeside along with the American Red Cross searched for the boy, Hale said.

Andrew voluntarily returned home about 9:30 a.m. and investigators said he had stayed the night at another child's nearby home, Hale said. That child's parents had not been aware Andrew was reported missing, the sergeant said.

Hale said Andrew was not injured and there was no evidence of any foul play.

-City News Service