A six-year-old boy who disappeared from a rural area of Lawrence County, Kentucky, has been located safe following a widespread multi-day search that drew in law enforcement agencies and large numbers of community volunteers.
Roman Heilman was last seen around 4 p.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2026, near Tadpole Road in the Louisa area. When he did not return, authorities activated an IAN Alert. This specialized alert system is used in Kentucky for children under the age of 18 who have autism or a mєntal illness and are believed to be in potential danger. The system operates on the same technical platform as the Amber Alert and allows information to be broadcast quickly to the public. It was created through legislation pᴀssed by the Kentucky General ᴀssembly in 2024 and is named in memory of Ian Sousis, a nine-year-old boy with autism who drowned in the Ohio River in June 2022 after wandering from a children’s home.
The search for Roman quickly expanded across the hills and wooded terrain of Lawrence County. Local deputies, Kentucky State Police, federal partners, and hundreds of volunteers took part. Search teams deployed drones and a helicopter to cover difficult ground. By Tuesday morning, more than 70 people were still actively looking for the child. During the operation, crews recovered several items of clothing believed to belong to Roman, including a diaper, pants, and a jacket.
On Tuesday, November 3, Kentucky State Police confirmed that Roman had been found safe. Officials did not release specific details about the exact location or circumstances of his discovery. Emergency personnel evaluated him at the scene, and he was described as alert. Authorities expressed strong appreciation to every agency and volunteer who ᴀssisted during the intensive three-day effort.
The successful recovery brought significant relief to the family and the surrounding community after days of uncertainty. The case demonstrates both the challenges of locating a missing child in rural and wooded areas and the value of rapid alert systems combined with strong community response. Roman’s safe return marks a positive outcome in a situation that had drawn widespread attention across eastern Kentucky.
