Mail Carrier Reunited With Toddler He Saved In Howard County

ELKRIDGE, MD — On Feb. 5, a Howard County family frantically searched for their missing toddler. Two-year-old Ethan Adeyemi had wandered off from an Elkridge townhouse community off US 1 without a trace. More than 100 officers, Howard County emergency responders and volunteers searched for him throughout the night to no avail. Ethan is nonverbal but can respond to his name with clapping. Officials used Ring doorbell videos and drones (once weather permitted it) in the search, as well as K-9 officers.

But the next morning, shortly after 8 a.m., U.S. Postal Services carrier Keith Rollins was driving along Interstate 95 and spied a tiny tot toddling alongside the road. It was Ethan. Rollins pulled over and safely scooped up the little boy to keep him from any further harm.

"It appears Adeyemi walked approximately a half mile from where he went missing last night," the Howard County Police Department said in a statement after the incident.

According to authorities, Adeyemi followed an adult out of his house in the 7800 block of Blue Stream Drive around 10:20 p.m. and was last seen running from family members.

Recently, Ethan met the man who saved him. Other searchers from that fateful night showed up at police headquarters to meet Ethan and watch the family gratefully thank Rollins in person. Below is footage from that moment, courtesy of the Howard County Police Department.