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Owen Goderre, 5, wandered off from his family’s home on Edson Road in Oakham with his dog, Tika, around 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 20.
Owen’s mom and dad, Samantha Kendall and Andrew Goderre, and his sister, Addie Goderre, frantically searched the nearby woods and the Ware River Watershed before calling the Rutland Regional Emergency Communications Center.
“It was incredible how fast they responded,” Samantha said. “Within a half hour, there were drones and within an hour, police lined the roads. They were amazing.”
State and local police and civilian search team members arrived at the family’s home to help look for Owen and Tika.
After a three-hour search, an officer calmly walked over to the family to tell them that Owen and the family dog were found.
“A sense of peace came over me,” his mom said.
The family said they chose to live in Oakham because it was a safe place.
“For that time, him being missing was a part of me missing,” Samantha added. “The relief was 1,000 pounds coming off my shoulders.”
More than 60 officers and civilian search team members were all presented with the District Attorney’s Team Excellence and Merit — TEAM Award — for going above and beyond the call of duty during the Feb. 20 search and rescue.
Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. thanked the searchers for their hard work and happy outcome.
“On that February day, Owen’s family was filled with dread and fear when they realized he walked out the door. It is every parent’s nightmare. The law enforcement officers, firefighters, first responders and civilian search team members who responded quickly to find Owen have families too. That day, they treated Owen like he was part of their family and they brought him home safe.”
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