Emergency crews, family and friends continue to comb the woods of Southern Wood County looking for seven-year-old Benjamin Hile.

Family members say Benjamin, who is autistic, went missing shortly after seven last night when he wandered away from home on County Road Z. That’s near the Deer Trail Park Campground outside of Nekoosa.

They've been searching for him throughout the night and they won't give up until he's brought home.

"It's scary for a seven-year-old boy to be missing anywhere," said a community member.

And when a seven-year-old goes missing near a campground, that's close to water, just before dark, it's even worse.

That's why the community is rallying together to help bring the boy called "Benjy" home.
They've set up a command center here on County Road Z where more than 100 came Thursday night to help search for Benjy.

"We have multiple agencies, fire agencies, been utilizing helicopters...ground searching, we have dogs," said David Laude, a Wood County Sheriff.

And they have the hope that someone will find Benjy in Wood County.

His family says he has blonde hair and blue eyes. He is wearing a blue "Buzz Lightyear" shirt and silver shorts and is barefoot.

Benjy is autistic, but they say he will respond to the command "come here."

If you see Benjy please call the Wood County Sheriff's Department at 715-421-8700.