12-year-old found safe after leaving home Thursday

After searching for about 12 hours, authorities found a 12-year-old Waxhaw boy safe in remote woods near his home, Union County Sheriff Eddie Cathey said.

Ethan Carter had been missing from his home on Avanti Drive, off Providence Road, since 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Union County sheriff’s investigators sent out a media alert asking for the public’s help in finding him.

Ethan was found and reunited with his family shortly after 7 a.m. Friday. Ethan had walked away from his home, the sheriff said.

Assisting in the search were the Waxhaw and Charlotte-Mecklenburg police departments, the State Highway Patrol, Union County Emergency Management, the Wesley Chapel Fire Department and numerous residents from the Providence Glen subdivision and surrounding neighborhoods, Cathey said.

Joe Marusak

This story was originally published September 18, 2015 at 5:43 AM with the headline "12-year-old found safe after leaving home Thursday."