I have a missing senior, 96-year-old who did not take his walker, he did not take his phone, and he did not take his wallet. >> Although the worst thing with gators is normally they'll take something and they'll go hide it. >> Yeah. >> And let it soften up. >> Yeah. >> When a 96-year-old man goes missing without a trace, his family fears the worst. But they're about to learn that help can sometimes come from the most unlikely places. >> Hey booms. Find them. >> In May 2026, a woman calls 911 with concerns about her father, 96-year-old Ray Cornett. >> 911, do you need police, fire, or medical? >> I am not sure. I have a missing senior, 96-year-old who apparently has walked off from the house and hasn't been able to be found for over an hour and a half. >> Okay. Is he diagnosed with anything? Any mental health? >> Um he has has very poor balance, very he cannot hear, and very poor eyesight. >> And you said he cannot hear? >> Uh no, almost hardly at all. And he usually uses his phone to translate speech to text, but he left his phone here or else I could find him. >> A deputy heads out to speak to Ray's daughter about the events that transpired before his disappearance. >> When's the last time you saw him? >> About 11:30, he was laying down to take a nap. >> Okay. >> So I went to lay down cuz I had a headache. And then when I woke up, uh he was gone. >> Okay. >> And he he did not take his walker, he did not take his phone, and he did not take his wallet. So that means he only has his cane. And I'm worried to death because he's out here in this heat somewhere. Ah, if I just hadn't had a headache. >> According to NOAA climate normals, average daytime highs in the area exceed 80° Fahrenheit by May. For a 96-year-old man like Ray, prolonged exposure to that heat could quickly become dangerous. But as his daughter will soon share, the heat isn't their only concern. >> And does he have any physical issues? >> He has uh he has an aneurysm next to his heart. >> Okay. >> Come on. Thank you. He's got all kinds of things, but [snorts] uh he had a stroke last June. So, he's got some weakness in his legs and the balance. He he can't walk in the dark or without his eyes open. So, if he got someplace dark, he could get confused and fall down. >> Got you. >> He simply can't do it. Um but it's bright daylight, so it should be I'm so I'm >> it's okay. It's I just wanted to make sure there wasn't any pressing medical issues that you know >> medical issues. >> something could happen to if, you know. >> No. >> Um doesn't mean we're not going to look for him. I just want to make sure, >> I know. I'm I'm not reacting very well, am I? >> No, you're doing just fine and I it's okay to be to be concerned. Don't worry about that, all right? >> Yeah, I am pretty good. >> Um it's okay. >> He went to get the mail and somebody pulled up like he's typical old person, right? He's like paranoid of everybody. There's no way like He wouldn't get in the car with a stranger. >> Not not not willing. >> Unless he was really confused. >> With no sign of Ray several hours into their search, deputies began to consider a grim possibility. >> As far as the dock and the water, does he go down close to the edge of the water or go sit on the dock? >> He will mow cuz I can't keep him off that lawn more. He gets close to the water there. I was watching him cuz I'm so afraid he's going to tip in. But he will go out on the dock when it's cool. >> Okay, a day like today? >> It's too hot. >> All right. Right, he'd have to come out to the edge and then go in. I I don't see any footprints or anything down here like somebody was walking in. >> And I think he's still there. >> Right. Yeah, it's all mud right here. >> Yeah, the water is the only thing I'm thinking. You know, kind of worried he could have slipped down in the water with his weak leg and everything else and not be able to get out. >> He's thrashing around and I think it's prey or something. Although the worst thing with gators is normally they'll take something and they'll go hide it >> Yeah. >> and let soften up. >> Yeah. >> While Ray's family and deputies focus their efforts around the lake, a neighbor points them in a different direction. >> Do you have any thoughts on where he might go to? >> Okay. We were checking out there right now, too. >> number one thing. He can't get far enough to be off the block, off the >> Right. >> I mean, you They went and looked for him with the car. >> Right. >> But the woods, he could fall there and not be found. >> The only thing I can think of is he was curious about that house, which you could barely see. >> Ray has now been missing for over 6 hours, and with nightfall approaching, fears around his safety only grow. Deputies have still found no trace of him, but they hope the arrival of another team might shift their luck. >> The bloodhound is on the way over here. >> Okay. >> It's going to be a minute before they get here, cuz they had to come from a good ways off, but then they can do a track at that point, and hopefully we can get somewhere with that, too. >> Okay. >> Bloodhounds are often used by law enforcement due to their ability to pick up scents that are days old. And a canine named Boomer is about to demonstrate just how remarkable the breed can be when tasked with a search and rescue mission. >> Find him. Not seeing anything that's telling me he went this way, either. Like, he's more interested out here, but it could just be because of the water. Hey, he's right here. Hey, I found him in the woods. Ray, are you okay? >> Yeah. >> Ray? >> Yeah, he's he's he's back here. He's fall- He's on the ground. >> Though seemingly disoriented, Ray appears to be unharmed. >> Ray? Hey. >> Hey. >> You all right? Hey. Mr. Ray, you okay? You all right? Here, we're just going to try and set you up, okay? >> How did you find me? >> We We tracked you with the dog. Here. >> Huh? >> We did find you. We're going to Do you want to try and sit up? >> I did a silly thing. Oh, well. >> Well, that's okay. We got you. How long you been out here? A couple hours? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Probably probably. >> Yeah, 10-4. >> I guess my daughter was very worried. >> Yep. Yep. Well, everybody's been out looking for you. So, we We're glad we found you, okay? >> I'm glad you found me. >> Yeah. He was trying to go look at the neighbor's house and cut through the woods and fell. Mhm. >> I'm sorry. I I I didn't >> No, it's okay. It's okay. >> First time anything anything like this ever happened to me. >> More units are directed to Ray's location, and they work on standing him up before they can get him medical attention. >> All right. So, we got a couple deputies here. We're going to help We're going to help you out, okay? We're going to hold your arms and make sure you can get out, okay? Can you feel your feet? >> I feel my feet. >> Yeah. Can you wiggle your toes? Okay. All right. All right. Take Take a real small sip, okay? >> Hey, Dad. Hey, Dad. >> Yeah, it's 10-4. We got a couple deputies and his family's here with us. >> I got disoriented. >> Yeah, that's what I mean. >> He's in hand. I I just meant it was the mailbox. >> I had a envelope in my pocket. >> Okay. Well, we'll check you when you stand up. >> sorry. I didn't I think it's over there. >> Okay. >> Ready? Can you walk at all? >> Yeah, I can walk. >> Look where you want to go. >> There's a hard part. There's a couple of big roots here. >> Got a big root here. We need to Would you rather us carry you? We can carry you out of here. >> Oh, you can't carry me. >> We can carry you. >> How did they find me? >> The The dog followed you. >> What kind of dog? >> A bloodhound. >> Huh? >> A bloodhound. >> As deputies and Ray's son work on getting him out, Boomer and his handler take a few moments to celebrate a successful rescue as they make their way back. >> Good job, buddy. Good boy. Hey, I'm going to bring Boomer out and I'm going to come to y'all and I'll go show you where he's at. Wyatt's going to stay with him. Come on, babies. That's a boy, Boomer. I mean, he's weak enough. Probably going to end up having to carry him out. But like he crawled back there, he's good. Good boy. He wanted to go see the houses. >> I don't blame him. They're immaculate. >> Good job, Boomer. >> Good job, Bubba. >> it. Let me go put him up. Good job, buddy. Hang on, Boomer. I'll get you some treats. >> Ray >> Cornett is finally out of the woods, nearly 7 hours after he went missing from his home. After EMS units on site evaluate him, Ray is taken to a hospital. His daughter would later tell deputies that she'd be keeping a closer eye on him from now on. Boomer, meanwhile, was widely praised for playing a key role in the rescue effort. Watch our full videos as they were originally made with no randomly muted words or details cut. We've also dropped brand new Ewu videos available only on Ewu Plus, available now on iOS, Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, and Google TV. Download Ewu Plus and see what you've been missing.