A Kinder teen was found safe Saturday afternoon, July 3, after he spent several days lost in the woods near Indian Village.
On Thursday morning, July 1, the family of 19-year-old Morris Williams of Kinder reported he was missing after he allegedly left his house early in the morning. Morris was last seen at approximately 4 a.m. on June 30, on state Highway 383 near Village Cemetery Road, according to Commander Ramby Cormier, chief deputy with the Jefferson Davis Sheriff’s Office’s Investigation Division (JDPSO).
Ivey said a search of the area began for the 19-year-old, who suffered from a medical condition that could impair his judgement.
Late Thursday afternoon, Louisiana State Police’s Sgt. James Anderson issued a “Silver Alert” on behalf of his department, in conjunction with JDPSO, for the teen.
On Friday, Detective Ramby Cormier with JDPSO said local Fire Districts Three and Five were helping to organize the ground search. He said search dogs, law enforcement officials and community members were quick to assist with the search using four-wheelers, tracking dogs, etc. He said they were using the Indian Village United Pentecostal Church as their base.
On Saturday afternoon, at approximately 2:35 p.m. Morris was reunited with his family.
Ivey said former teachers of Morris joined in the search. He said they had searched the area where Morris was eventually located, but Morris told deputies later that he was afraid he might get into trouble.
“He just went walking and got turned around,” Ivey said.
Area residents kept others updated on the search through social media. Ivey said this man, who owned the property behind the cemetery, walked up and said he might know where to find Morris. He said the guy drove around with some of the deputies and soon located Morris in an area thick with undergrowth.
The daughter of the unidentified good Samaritan posted on social media her father flew in from Dallas to visit his camp in the area. She said after hearing the news, he said there were two places he wanted to check in the woods where Morris might be located. In her post, she said her dad said those locations would be where he would go if he was lost.
“My dad drove his side-by-side down to a very dense part of the woods where a big pipe washed up during the storm. He sat there about 10 seconds looking around with the engine off. Then, this young man – Morris – climbed out of that pipe, barefoot, torn clothes, with a huge smile on his face. After asking if he was Morris, my dad said, first come give me a hug, then I got some water for you! Incredible how God can use us with just a little whisper of a thought. After an 82 hour manhunt, my dad drives right to the guy and brings him back in less than 10 minutes. No one could believe it – they were thinking they were on a “body recovery” mission at this point and here he comes, pulling up with a smile on his face.”
The post went on to say Saturday was Morris’ birthday.
“It was one of those moments you just know God used you for his purpose,” the post continued. She said her dad took pictures with Morris before going to the hospital. That night in Kinder at supper, she said someone came up to him and identified him as “the guy who found Morris.”
Both Ivey and Cormier said Allen Parish Sheriff Doug Hebert III sent manpower to assist since they were searching in an area on the parish line. Ivey said one of Hebert’s deputies had a drone and used it to see if he could locate Williams. A plane from Calcasieu Parish also was utilized to assist in the search.
“After two or three days, people are often not found in good health,” Ivey said. “Fortunately Williams was okay. He was checked out at the hospital. He was a little dehydrated and had lots of mosquito bites.”
Ivey said a lot of manpower and resources were used in the search. He said the sheriff appreciated the help from the public, law enforcement officials and the volunteer fire departments as well as the residents of Indian Village.
Sheriff Ivy J. Woods, JDPSO, released a statement saying, “I would like to thank all the agencies, community members and volunteers that assisted with the search for Mr. Williams.” Woods specifically thanked Sheriff Hebert and his staff as well as the two fire districts for their assistance.
The Williams family also thank everyone who helped in the search and expressed their gratitude for all the assistance given to the family.
