PRESCOTT, Wis. (WEAU) – For the first time since he was found alive by a local man and his dog we’re hearing from the family of Scott Meyer.

The mother of the once-missing 5-year-old spoke to the media Sunday in Prescott about the horrifying ordeal.

The non-speaking autistic boy was found July 4 by the volunteer searcher 21 hours after he wandered away from his rural Pierce County home.

WEAU 13 News was there as the Meyer family got the chance to thank the man and dog who saved Scott’s life.

The Meyer family said wanted to set the record straight on some of the details of Scotty’s disappearance.

While an air conditioning repairman was doing work at the house when the boy escaped Tuesday, Barbara Meyer said it wasn’t the man’s fault.

“It's not like we didn't have precautions in our home. Each door has more than one lock on it. One of the times the doors open and closed, our son Lane was the culprit with Scott following behind,” Meyer said.

A massive search effort was launched to find the boy.

The next day Jason Moser joined the search with his 6-year-old golden retriever named Autumn.

The father of two young boys from Ellsworth said he pictured his own kids out there.

“There's no way I couldn’t give up a minute to go,” Moser said.

The duo was searching through some woods near the Mississippi River when Autumn ran toward a voice.

“I could see the bare skin. When I knew it was him… I called for help,” Moser said.

Scotty was found dehydrated and covered in bug bites a half mile from his house.

Meyer said her son is doing fine after a short trip to the hospital to get checked out.

“He's running around at home with his iPad, he's watching video, he really is back on track,” Meyer said.

Because of his degree of autism, Meyer said Scotty hasn’t been able to communicate about why he ventured from the house or his day in the woods.

Since all three of their boys are autistic, the family was given special bracelets from the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department that have the ability to have a track device installed.

The local mom said her boys attempted wearing the bracelets in the past but couldn’t wear them because of their sensitivity.

The Meyers said they’d like to thank the emergency responders and dozens of volunteers who rushed to help find Scott.

They gave a special thanks to the Moser family.

“We believe god chose you as earthly angels and we're very thankful. This is a miracle,” Meyer said.

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STORY FROM 7-4:

(WEAU) - WEAU 13 News has confirmed through the Pierce County Sheriff's Department that Scotty Meyer has has been found near his Prescott home.

Investigators confirmed it's the boy and that he was found safe.

The boy, who is a non-speaking autistic child was found in a wooded area just a half mile away from home. He was found with bug bites on him.

The man who found him was Jason Moser.

The Ellsworth man was searching near the river with his dog, when the animal needed break for some water.

That's when Moser heard something and later determined some noises were coming from Scott.

"He had bare skin, just his diaper on. It stuck out like a beacon," Moser said.

Video shown on WEAU 13 News showed his parents reunited with the boy who was then placed in an ambulance.

He was taken to a hospital for evaluation.

The Meyer family says they have three autistic children. They say Scott and his siblings slipped the house while when a repairman was working at the home.

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department says they got a call around noon on Tuesday that Scott Meyer had gone missing from N4842 1165th Street in the Town of Oak Grove.

Stay with WEAU 13 News and WEAU.com for the latest on this developing story.

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MORE INFO FROM WISCONSIN EMERGENCY OPERATIONS:
Pierce County Search: A 5 year old boy who had been missing since around noon on Tuesday was found safe this morning near his Prescott home. Pierce County officials have been conducting a search since yesterday for the boy, who is a non-speaking autistic child. He was found in a wooded area by a good Samaritan and his dog, just a half mile away from his home. Officials say he has been reunited with his parents and appeared uninjured. He was taken to a local hospital as a precaution. Officials say over 1,000 volunteers were at the local school early this morning to assist with the search. Numerous resources from state and local fire, EMS, emergency management, law enforcement and volunteer agencies were used in the search. This includes air assets from WI State Patrol, Minnesota State Patrol and Lifeline Helicopter. In addition, a Department of Natural Resources Incident Management Team was deployed. Other state agencies involved in the search include Wisconsin Emergency Management, WI State Patrol and WI Department of Justice - Division of Criminal Investigation. Pierce County Sheriff Nancy Hove wanted to thank all volunteers and agencies from both Wisconsin and Minnesota that were involved in the search.
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(WEAU) – Deputies are searching for a missing 5-year-old boy in Pierce County.

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department says they got a call around noon on Tuesday that Scott Meyer had gone missing from N4842 1165th Street in the Town of Oak Grove. It says the boy goes by the name “Scotty” and is non-verbal autistic. He’s 3 feet tall and has blond hair and was last seen wearing green shorts and no shirt.

Deputies say if you’re looking to help, you can report to N4842 1165th St. in Oak Grove.

The department asks you to call them at 715-273-5051 if you have any information on his whereabouts.

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Tuesday night update:

The following is a press release from the Pierce County Sheriff's Department:

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office is no longer looking for volunteers for the search tonight. We will not be using civilian volunteers for night time searches but we will continue to search through the night.

If you are interested in volunteering in the search on 7/4/2012 please come to The Prescott High School, 1220 St. Croix St; Prescott, WI 54021 at 8:00 am. Wear long pants, tennis shoes and bring bug spray and water. There will be additional shuttles leaving throughout the day to bring volunteers to the search area.

If you are interested in volunteering please report to the staging area there is no need to call the Sheriff’s Office. If Scott is found we will make that information immediately available to the media.

The Sheriff’s Office appreciates all the help and support from the volunteers and community today.

The Sheriff’s Office is also being assisted on scene by the Minnesota State Patrol Flight Wing, Wisconsin DNR, Ellsworth Fire Department, Ellsworth Ambulance, Prescott Fire, Prescott Ambulance, Prescott Police, Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Schafer Franconia Fire, Minnesota Search and Rescue, Spring Valley Ambulance, Elmwood Ambulance, River Falls Fire, River Falls Ambulance.

If you have any information reference the whereabouts of Scott please call the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office at 715-273-5051

Pierce County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Derek C. Featherstone

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(WEAU) – Deputies are searching for a missing 5-year-old boy in Pierce County.

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department says they got a call around noon on Tuesday that Scott Meyer had gone missing from N4842 1165th Street in the Town of Oak Grove. It says the boy goes by the name “Scotty” and is non-verbal autistic. He’s 3 feet tall and has blond hair and was last seen wearing green shorts and no shirt.

Deputies say if you’re looking to help, you can report to N4842 1165th St. in Oak Grove.

The department asks you to call them at 715-273-5051 if you have any information on his whereabouts.

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Pierce County Sheriff’s Department Press Release

On Tuesday July 3, 2012 at approximately 11:56am the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a missing 5 YOA male at the address of N4842 1165th Street in the Town of Oak Grove. The name of the child is Scott Meyer he is a non-verbal autistic male that also goes by “Scotty” he is 3’00” blond hair last seen wearing green shorts and no shirt with a buzz cut.

If you see the child or have any information regarding the whereabouts of the child please call the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office at 715-273-5051.

At this time if the public wishes to help they can report to the address of N4842 1165th St.

The search is ongoing at this time agencies assisting are Ellsworth Fire, Ellsworth Ambulance, Prescott Fire, Prescott Ambulance, Red Wing Fire, River Falls Fire, Hudson Fire, Roberts Fire, Wisconsin State Patrol, Goodhue County Water Patrol and Mounted Posse, Minnesota State Patrol, Wisconsin DNR and Minnesota Search and Rescue.