- November 1, 2024
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With the help of three sheriff's offices, drones, bloodhounds and 100 volunteers, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has found missing and endangered Palm Coast teenager Rickey Wheeler alive after a five-day search.
The effort began the evening of Friday, Sept. 21, after his mother called and reported him missing. Time was of the essence as Wheeler has a medical condition that can be life threatening when he has not had his medication.
In response, FCSO deployed multiple specialized units, deputies from the Marine Unit, K-9 Unit, Community Policing and Investigations divisions, Communications and Mounted Posse and COP volunteers. FCSO was also assisted by Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia sheriff’s offices in an attempt to locate him as quickly as possible using helicopters, drones and bloodhounds.
In addition, a volunteer search effort was also used, with over 100 volunteers from the community assisting.
Members of the structured volunteer search party lead by FCSO Detective Guamarra and Detective Fuentes discovered clothing consistent with what Wheeler was wearing the night he disappeared. This finding gave FCSO the first real starting point and area to concentrate the search.
After locating the clothing, FCSO suspended all volunteer search efforts and secured the area so that any scent would not be contaminated. FCSO requested Putnam County Sheriff’s Office to assist with their bloodhound to assist in tracking. Once the bloodhound arrived on scene, the FCSO K9 Unit assisted in tracking Wheeler.
Wheeler was located in a wooded area near Palm Coast Town Center. Although dehydrated and with many bug bites, he had no other visible injuries and was able to communicate to deputies. He said he was thirsty.
“I want to thank everyone for their tips, emails and support during this search," Sheriff Rick Staly said in a press release. "I believe that Rickey Wheeler was found alive because of the massive efforts from our employees, our great community and volunteers and support from our neighboring law enforcement agencies along with our local fire/rescue departments. This is a story that could have had a very different ending. There is no greater honor in our line of work than when you can reunite a missing child with their family and tell the mother and father their child is coming home. God was clearly watching over Rickey and helped led us to him.”
Rickey Wheeler was transported to Florida Hospital Flagler where he was reunited with his family. He is in stable condition.
