KENNEDY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — UPDATE: A missing 5-year-old boy with autism who wandered away from his school during recess has been found safe, Allegheny County Police say.
#Update: Jedadiah has been found safe!
— Allegheny County PD (@AlleghenyCoPD) September 2, 2025
Thank you to all of the first responders who assisted, our media partners for helping get the word out, and everyone that shared across these platforms.
ORIGINAL COVERAGE
Allegheny County police are asking for help locating a missing 5-year-old boy who wandered away from his school’s playground during recess.
Police say Jedadiah Jackson, a kindergarten student who has autism and is non-verbal, was last seen around 11:50 a.m. Tuesday in the 300 block of Ewing Road in Kennedy Township.
According to investigators, Jedadiah wandered away from the Sto-Rox Primary Center’s playground during recess while a teacher was outside. Upon realizing he was missing and being unable to locate him inside the school or in the surrounding outside areas, district officials immediately contacted law enforcement.
Investigators started by searching in the woods behind the school, and are now canvassing nearby neighborhoods and have deployed helicopters, drones and K9s. River rescue has been deployed, but police say they have no reason to believe he is in the river at this time.
Police are asking people who live near the school to check their property, including sheds and pools, as well as doorbell cameras.
Jedadiah may run away, so if you see him, stay calm and call 911 or the County Tip Line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS. Police say drones are playing a recording of his mother.
“That’s why we utilized the recording, so he wouldn’t be afraid. He will be afraid if approached by strangers. It depends. He may run away from you, so don’t approach him aggressively,” Lt. Venerando Costa said.
Police say Jedadiah is 3.5 feet tall and was last seen wearing a black long-sleeved fleece and khaki pants. He was carrying a green dinosaur toy.
Once current search areas are ruled out, police say they’ll expand the search.
In a statement, the Sto-Rox School District said “the safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority” and says it’s fully cooperating with authorities.
On Facebook, the district said that police are asking the public to avoid coming to the primary center or the woods where the search is happening.
The district is making counselors available for students and staff. Families who feel their child may need assistance are asked to contact their school office.
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