Holden Duncan, a missing boy from Crofton, NE, has been found safe

KNOX COUNTY, Neb. (KTIV) – The northeast Nebraska boy reported missing earlier this week, 11-year-old Holden (Duncan) Ouding, has been found.

The Knox County Sheriff's Office said they received a 911 call at approximately 11:10 a.m. on Thursday, October 24, from a local farmer approximately five miles north of Crofton, Nebraska.

The farmer told authorities he found Holden hiding in a shelterbelt, which is usually a line of trees or shrubs planted for environmental protection. After finding Holden, the farmer made Holden a sandwich to eat.

The police eventually took Holden into protective custody. Emergency responders were called to the area to conduct a precautionary health assessment on Duncan, who was then reunited with his family.

“It is a great relief not only for the people who worked here, but for the entire community. We had an incredible amount of support and volunteers and people in the city, across the county and throughout the county,” said Mitch Johnson with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission . “I think it’s a big relief for everyone.”

Local officials wanted to praise the various local, state and federal agencies; and the dozens of volunteers who came to help with the search efforts.

“There are a lot of resources and I can't praise how our community and the entire county has helped with food donations and everything they've brought has been really wonderful,” said Crofton Fire and Rescue Chief Jason Wavurnek.

Holden was first reported missing from Crofton on Monday, October 21st. Authorities searched the Crofton area for Holden for days, with the Nebraska State Patrol at one point issuing a missing persons report for Holden.

“The Knox County Sheriff's Office would like to thank everyone who participated in the search over the course of the days and will release as accurate a list of all participants as possible later this week or early next week. I'm sure the family would agree, the main thing is that Holden was found, is safe and is going home,” Knox County Sheriff Don Henery said in a post on Facebook.

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KNOX COUNTY, Neb. (KTIV) – The family of an 11-year-old boy who hasn't been seen since Monday is begging him to come home.

According to the Knox County Sheriff's Office, 11-year-old Holden Duncan, whose legal last name is Ouding, was last seen from Crofton High School on Monday, October 21 at approximately 4:15 p.m. Surveillance cameras then filmed him walking alone and unharmed near the northern edge of Crofton, around 6:30 Monday night.

A missing person alert was issued for Duncan on Wednesday.

The Knox County Sheriff's Office is asking residents in and around Crofton to check all security and surveillance cameras for signs of Duncan starting October 21 at 4 p.m. If anyone sees anything relevant, contact the Knox County Sheriff's Office.

Since he was reported missing late Monday evening, multiple local, regional and state agencies have been searching for Duncan using drones and helicopters into the late evening and early morning hours. The FBI was also contacted.

Authorities believe Duncan is hiding in the immediate Crofton area.

Holden Duncan has sandy brown hair. He is 1.95 meters tall and approximately 80 pounds. He is small for his age. He was last seen wearing a black long-sleeve UnderArmor shirt, black sweatpants and black Nike shoes with a white Swoosh. He also wears glasses.

If anyone has seen Holden Duncan or knows where he may be hiding, please call the Knox County Sheriff's Office immediately at 402-288-4261.

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