Two young brothers, Atom Ward, 12, and Jack Ward, 10, were found safe near Spirit Mountain Casino around midnight Sunday, approximately six miles from their Mohave Valley home. Their discovery concluded an eight-hour search that involved county search-and-rescue units, a tracking dog, and a state police helicopter. The boys had been missing since Sunday afternoon, last seen leaving their residence on the 10000 block of Bridle Lane at approximately 3:50 p.m. Jack was barefoot when he was located, according to FOX 10 Phoenix.
Atom was reportedly wearing dark blue jeans, a black t-shirt, gray tennis shoes, and possibly a black-and-white baseball hat. His younger brother, Jack, had on black cargo shorts and a pastel tie-dye t-shirt, with no shoes. The boys' father initiated a search of their surrounding neighborhood around 7 p.m. and discovered fresh footprints leading away from the property, even before emergency crews arrived, FOX 10 Phoenix reports. Mohave County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue (SAR) units subsequently arrived at the scene to assist.
Upon their arrival, search-and-rescue trackers confirmed that the discovered footprints belonged to the missing boys. They then assumed control of the tracking operation from the father. SAR K9 Mano, a Belgian Malinois handled by Rick Powell, joined the ground trackers, conducting an overnight search of the Mohave Valley desert. To provide additional support, the Arizona Department of Public Safety's Central Air Rescue Unit dispatched a crew from Phoenix to offer overhead assistance, FOX 10 Phoenix reported. In addition to the ground and air search, rescuers and family members contacted local businesses located along the boys' potential route, inquiring if anyone had seen them, according to FOX 10 Phoenix.
The search culminated around midnight when the brothers were found walking near Spirit Mountain Casino. The casino, an Indian gaming facility located at 8555 AZ-95 on Highway 95 in Mohave Valley, is owned and operated by the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe. Family members were reunited with Atom and Jack, bringing them home safely early Monday morning. Authorities confirmed both boys were in good health following their ordeal, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix.
The precise reasons why the brothers ventured six miles from their home, and the exact distance they covered on foot before being found, remain undetermined, FOX 10 Phoenix reports. The Mohave County Sheriff's Office has not released further details regarding the circumstances that led the boys away from Bridle Lane. Mohave County describes its Search & Rescue organization as an entirely volunteer force, comprising more than 130 members organized into four geographically based units. The county requires new members to complete a 32-hour Basic Academy. The Arizona Department of Public Safety's Aviation Bureau provides air-rescue support to its state and local partners, with its fiscal year 2023 summary reporting a total of 429 rescue flights. Mohave County's search and rescue teams have previously undertaken various high-stakes operations within the region, including a rescue involving a dog in a 100-foot mine shaft and a desert search linked to the case of missing Lake Havasu City woman Marissa Hoffman.
