Illinois Dad and Son Found Safe After Search

A wide search for a missing Illinois father and his toddler son ended safely late Sunday after police found both in Milwaukee, about 60 miles from their home in McHenry. Todd Sabatini, 36, and his 22-month-old son, Theo, had vanished during what appeared to be an ordinary neighborhood walk, triggering concern among relatives and a multi-agency effort that stretched across state lines.

The case began when the pair did not return home for roughly four hours. Family members raised the alarm, and the investigation took on added urgency when Theo’s stroller was later found abandoned about a mile from the family’s house, according to the Lake McHenry Scanner. For parents and investigators alike, the discovery suggested the situation could be far more serious than a routine delay.

McHenry is located about 46 miles northwest of Chicago, and the search quickly widened beyond the immediate area as law enforcement tried to determine where Sabatini and his son had gone. Authorities later said that Sabatini first took Theo in a rideshare to the Salem Lakes area of Wisconsin, before traveling farther north to the Greenfield Police Department, another 40 miles away. Police said Sabatini spoke with an officer there around 2 p.m. Saturday, before he and Theo were publicly considered missing.

Officials have not said what was discussed during that encounter. After leaving the police station, however, the father and son were later reported in the Milwaukee area, where tips indicated they were seeking food and other necessities. That detail suggested the pair had spent a significant amount of time moving around the region after leaving McHenry, though police have not publicly outlined all the steps in their path.