Missing Teen Found Alive at Bottom of Ravine Days Later With Injuries

Dakota Trenkle Jr., a 13-year-old who was reported missing on Sunday, was found alive at the bottom of a nearby ravine with serious injuries to his head and leg, according to the local sheriff’s department and a GoFundMe created on his behalf.

Authorities said the Missouri boy had survived more than three days without food or water.

Newsweek has reached out to the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department for comment via email on Friday.

What To Know

Trenkle was reported missing after he left home on his skateboard to visit a friend but never arrived, authorities said.

In a July 29 post, the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department reported that Trenkle was found “after an extensive search involving multiple agencies and widespread community support.”

Earlier that day, Trenkle’s brother called emergency responders after finding Dakota’s skateboard about a half mile from their home. Police then requested support from the Farmington Correctional Center (FCC) K-9 Unit. A 5-year-old bloodhound named Daryl successfully followed Trenkle’s scent and discovered him at the bottom of a ravine in about a foot of water, nearly 240 feet down.

“Dakota sustained a traumatic leg injury and endured 96 hours of being exposed to the elements without food or water. Due to Dakota’s current condition, he was airlifted by ARCH helicopter to a St. Louis area hospital for emergency medical care,” the sheriff’s department post said.

A GoFundMe set up by his aunt, Brittney Van Volkenburg, said he suffered “head trauma.”

A photo of the K-9 bloodhound that rescued Dakota Trenkle Jr. is shown on the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department Facebook page.

St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department Facebook.

What People Are Saying

St. Francois County Sheriff Jeff Crites: “This was an incredibly difficult search, both physically and emotionally. Finding Dakota alive after so many days is nothing short of a miracle. We are thankful to everyone who contributed their time and energy to bring him home.”

Van Volkenburg, also a volunteer firefighter with the Goose Creek Lake Fire Department, told KSDK: “This was a miracle. He’s a fighter. He’s been a fighter since the day he was born.”

Lieutenant Virginia Stafford, handler on the K-9 unit, told KSDK: “We had our gear on, which makes us hotter. The terrain was slick from the humidity … as soon as we went down, Daryl was on track; he was pulling really well. He did lead us down to him … There’s no way he could have hollered for help; he couldn’t speak when we got to him. Daryl led us straight to him … Daryl is a hero. He did a great job. That’s why we train every week, in all elements—hot, cold, water, snow. It paid off.”