MISSING 2-Year-Old – Search Intensifies!

Magnifying glass over investigation board with photos and strings.

(TheIndependentStar.com) – A desperate search is underway for a 2-year-old who vanished while playing in his front yard in Siletz, Oregon.

See the Missing Child poster further down this report.

Dane Paulsen recently disappeared, raising serious concerns as authorities have deployed extensive resources but still have not located the child after several days.

Despite hundreds of volunteers and professional searchers covering hundreds of acres, the lack of federal AMBER Alert highlights obstacles that often delay critical responses to missing children cases.

Little Dane was last seen this weekend. He was playing in his front yard when he disappeared from his parents’ sight.

Described as friendly and fearless, the boy was wearing a gray hoodie with ears, black pants, and blue-and-white shoes at the time of his disappearance.

Authorities have noted that the child is comfortable around strangers and water but cannot swim, which is particularly concerning given the proximity of the Siletz River to the search area.

The response from the small Oregon community has been overwhelming. Volunteers have traveled from as far as Castle Rock, Washington, and Boise, Idaho, to join the search efforts.

Search teams have already covered an astonishing 682 acres and 311 miles of terrain without finding the missing boy.

The operation includes 88 search-and-rescue members, 40 investigators, 4 drones, human trailing dogs, and 140 volunteers.

Marine teams, including 13 divers, are searching the Siletz River as concerns grow about the child’s safety near water bodies.

“We thank our community for sharing information and tips related to this investigation. Our team and the community are working tirelessly to bring Dane home,” Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department.

Curiously, the sheriff’s office has stated Dane’s disappearance “does not meet the criteria to use the Amber Alert system.”

This limitation has prevented broader emergency notifications that might have alerted more citizens to be on the lookout for the missing child.

Many parents and concerned citizens are left wondering why the disappearance of a vulnerable toddler would not automatically trigger a national emergency alert system.

While investigators have stated that “there is no evidence at this time to suggest criminal actions are involved in this incident,” they are leaving no stone unturned.

The Lincoln County Major Crime Team and the FBI are assisting in the investigation, indicating that they are laser-focused on the disappearance.

Initially, police had shown interest in an adult male and a 1990s gold station wagon seen in the area, but these leads have been determined to be “no longer a point of interest.”

“This is every family’s tragedy, This is horrible. Yeah. So I came out here because, we’ve it’s a mom calls for help. I want to come. So. Yeah. So that’s why I’m here,” volunteer Tammy Hads stated.

The search effort continues to grow as community members rally to find the missing boy.

Authorities are urging anyone with information to check in at Elks Toketee Illahee campground or call them for information.

In this small town of less than 1,300 residents located 80 miles west of Salem, approximately 300 people have participated in the search so far.

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