Boys Who Went Missing Near Elk Lake Found Safe

Kevin Hoch, the Undersheriff with Antrim County Sheriff’s Office, tells us “the initial call came in as two missing young boys” Sunday afternoon.

Antrim County Sheriff’s Office spent Sunday afternoon searching for the two missing boys, ages 9 and 10, near Elk Lake. Many departments came together to help with the search.

“We had several emergency personnel that arrived on scene that included the mutual aid dive team that included the United States Coast Guard, and the SAR team, which is the search and rescue team with this area as well” says Hoch, along with Milton Township Fire Department, Bellaire Police Department, Grand Traverse Sheriff’s Office, Leelanau County Sheriff’s office and Benzie County Sheriff’s Office.

The ice on the lake is thin due to the warmer weather. The Coast Guard did find boot prints matching the boy’s boots on the lake. Hoch says they “had the Coast Guard down on ground” and they “had road deputies searching the area.” He tells us, they “also had the coast guard flying over the woods just in case they could see the two young boys in the woods.”

The boys were found safe around 7:30 p.m. the same day and taken home.

The Antrim County Sheriff’s office says “everyone was extremely, extremely happy. The family extended their gratitude to everyone that assisted, that is from citizens to emergency personnel. It turned out to be a fantastic day for that family.”

UPDATE 3/20/23 9:15 a.m.

On Monday, deputies released more information about two boys who were reported missing and found on Sunday. They say a 911 call came in around 3:30 p.m. that the boys, a 9- and 10-year-old, had possibly fallen through the ice on Elk Lake.

Fire departments, police, a dive team and a helicopter all aided in the search. A Facebook post about the boys also helped bring in tips, with several people saying they had seen them near the schools in Elk Rapids.

They were found at around 7:40 p.m. and taken home.

3/19/23 8:10 p.m.

The Antrim County Sheriff’s Office says the two boys were found safe, and thanked the community for all their help.

3/19/23 6:49 p.m.

The U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes confirming they’re searching for two boys, 9 and 10-years-old, on Elk Lake.

They were last seen Sunday afternoon, outside with tracks leading up to the ice on the lake.

A boat crew from the Coast Guard Station in Charlevoix is assisting the search, along with local first responders.

Northern Michigan’s News Leader has a crew heading to the area now, and we will continue to update this article as we learn more information.