A 3-year-old boy was found in the Wolf River on Monday morning in New London, Wisconsin, after he was reported missing around midnight near the 1000 block of W. Beacon Avenue near the middle school. Police Chief Joshua Wilson said the child had traveled four blocks from home before being found hours later in the river upstream near downtown.
The boy was taken to ThedaCare-New London hospital, and his condition was not known. It also was not known exactly where he entered the water, though police said it was possible he went into the river closer to home and was carried by the current.
The search had already drawn attention before sunrise. John Faucher said he arrived at work around 6 a.m. and noticed drones and a higher police presence. “We noticed some drones and a higher police presence,” he said, adding that an Amber Alert was issued shortly after. “And then there was an Amber Alert shortly after. And of course, then we knew what the police presence was for.” He said he and his staff joined the search effort after the alert went out.
Witnesses reported a heavy law enforcement presence around 7 a.m., with Faucher describing “lots of county squads, city squads” and saying there was interagency support from other communities in New London. By then, the river itself was part of the worry. Faucher said the Wolf River had risen above 10 feet and hit 10.26 feet, close to a level that makes people nervous. He said recent flooding concerns along the river had businesses preparing for more rain and sandbagging nearby.
Faucher said the water was moving at about 10,000 cubic feet per second and looked more deceptive than safe. “It doesn’t look dangerous, but this is pretty dangerous current level for even healthy people,” he said. “Definitely don’t recommend being anywhere around it without life jackets.” He added that no amount of caution can erase the risk: “No matter how vigilant you are, there’s always a risk.”
What remains unanswered is the part that matters most to the family and to investigators: how long the child was in the water and how he got out in the first place. Police said he may have entered the Wolf River closer to home and been moved downstream by the current, a reminder that in fast water, a few seconds can decide everything.
