Man leaves son in woods
October 25, 2017
A man is wanted by authorities after leaving his child in the woods overnight. Wayne County Sheriff said Monday his team is actively searching for the father, Richard Dearman, who left his little boy stranded."He told him he thought the law was behind him," Sheriff Jody Ashley said. "They would turn down a dirt road, they would get out the vehicle way in the woods in a wooded area. He would tell him to stand by a tree and wait and he would be back to get him."Those were the words 32-year-old Richard Dearman told his five-year-old son last Wednesday, according to Wayne County Sheriff Jody Ashley. 24 hours later, the child woke up cold and alone. As he wandered in the wilderness searching for his father, he walked nearly a mile."The young boy walked out of the woods," Ashley said. "He said he heard a dog barking and walked to a house."Thursday morning the child found help from a homeowner who lived in the Brewertown community, which is on the Greene, Wayne County line. Sheriff Ashley said the boy had minor cuts from being in the woods overnight, but overall is okay. As for the father, he is a wanted man. "It makes you mad he would do something like this," Ashley said. "There are a lot of things that could have happened to this child in the woods. I don't know a history of drug arrests with this man or not, we are checking everything, but we are cutting warrants for him now."Dearman ditched his truck where he dropped his son off. Deputies recovered it, but now they need your help finding the him. He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt with red and black gym shorts. He has green eyes, brown hair and a goatee. Sheriff Ashley said he is about 5'4 and is from Greene County.Once found, he will be charged with child endangerment and possibly faces even more charges.If you have any information that can help deputies find Dearman call the Wayne County Sheriff's Office 601-735-2323.