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'We Got Him!': Heat-Seeking Technology Helps Rescue Missing 2-Year-Old In Michigan

April 9, 2025

Today's good news story comes from Jackson County, Michigan.

Thanks to quick action by first responders and advanced infrared technology, a missing toddler in Michigan was safely located after wandering off in freezing temperatures.

Michigan State Police

On the evening of April 5, a 2-year-old boy was reported missing from his home in Blackman Charter Township, about an hour from Detroit. His parents told authorities he had been in the living room when they briefly stepped away. When they returned, the door to the apartment was open — and their child was gone.

Michigan State Troopers from Jackson County immediately launched a search, using an infrared camera mounted on a helicopter. With temperatures dipping into the 40s that night — and eventually dropping below freezing — time was of the essence. The child was wearing only a diaper, adding urgency to the situation.

Tactical Flight Officer Trooper Brandon Franklin and Sgt. Cole Martin were already in the air when they got the call. As parents themselves, both officers felt the weight of the moment.

“En route, we said, 'We got to find this baby as soon as possible',” Franklin recalled.

“We weren't leaving until we found that child,” Martin added.

Within 15 minutes of arriving in the area, the infrared camera detected movement in a ditch near a highway. A video released by Michigan State Police captures the moment one of the troopers said, “We got him!”

The toddler was found conscious, alert, and unharmed. Officers on the ground comforted the boy before walking him to a waiting ambulance. He was taken to a nearby hospital and later reunited with his family.

“When we found that child, first thing we do, if we find anyone, we go, we high five in the air and then we say, ‘Yeah!’” Franklin shared.

Martin added, “We train for this and make sure that we leave with happy endings and don’t fall short of that.”

The Michigan State Police praised the teamwork between Trooper 2 and local officers from the Blackman-Leoni Department of Public Safety, calling the rescue a success made possible by both technology and dedication.

Watch the video of the rescue below: