The search for Noah Chamberlin, a 2-year-old from Tennessee who recently wandered away from his grandmother during a nature walk, has entered its sixth day, with authorities saying in a news conference Tuesday afternoon that they believe he is still in the woods he disappeared in.
Chamberlin has been missing since Thursday afternoon after his grandmother and 4-year-old sister lost track of him while they were walking together in the woods in the Pinson community, according to the Associated Press.
Since his disappearance, law enforcement from multiple state and local agencies as well as volunteers from the area have been searching for the missing toddler 24/7. They have covered more than eight miles in total but have failed to find any sign of him.
"The frustrating side, the bewildering side, is that we've found nothing," said Deputy Sheriff Tom Mapes with the Madison County Sheriff's Department, according to NBC News. "All this manpower, all the technical, infrared sightings, hundreds of volunteers going arm-to-arm through all these acres. Nothing, absolutely nothing."
This frustration is expected to linger for law enforcement due to a change in the methodology used in the ongoing search. Unlike every other night when civilian volunteers aided in the search, authorities had to search for Chamberlin alone Tuesday night due to forecasted winter weather. Though not explicitly stated, authorities will need to conduct their nightly searches alone so long as the winter weather persists.
Despite the cold weather, authorities believe that Chamberlin is still safe and said that they have little reason to believe he is anywhere other than the woods he disappeared in. All they ask is that no one spreads false rumors about him online since it hinders the search.
"Don't start rumors; don't post all that garbage on Facebook," said Madison County Sheriff John Mehr, according to NBC's Tennessee affiliate WBIR-TV. "We need help, not hindrance."
Chamberlin has been added to the search list for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Chester County Sheriff's Office at 731-989-2787 or the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBI-FIND.
