Missing McHenry Toddler and Father Found Safe on Milwaukee City Bus After Multi-State Search
MCHENRY, Ill. — A tense multi-state search came to a relieved conclusion on Sunday evening after a missing 22-month-old toddler and his father were located unharmed aboard a public transit bus in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The McHenry Police Department confirmed that 36-year-old Todd Sabatini and his son, Theo, were found safe following an intensive effort involving local authorities, neighboring law enforcement agencies, and widespread public assistance across state lines.
A Disappearance That Raised Alarm
The incident began on Saturday, August 8, 2026, when Sabatini left his residence on Brown Street in McHenry around 12:00 p.m. to take young Theo for a routine walk in his stroller. Concerns mounted rapidly when the pair failed to return by 4:00 p.m., prompting worried family members to notify law enforcement.
According to McHenry Deputy Chief of Police Thomas Walsh, investigators quickly realized Sabatini had departed without critical supplies required for an extended trip with a toddler, such as adequate food, diapers, or extra clothing.
The urgency intensified shortly after police launched their investigation. Officers discovered the empty stroller abandoned behind a commercial business in the 4200 block of West Elm Street (Route 120).
Tracking Their Footsteps
Detectives immediately began piecing together the duo’s movements through security footage and community tips. Surveillance video captured Sabatini and his son walking on foot near the intersection of Oak Drive and Elm Street.
Investigators tracked the pair to several local establishments, including a Jewel-Osco grocery store on Route 120. Security footage also showed Sabatini attempting to make contact with individuals inside the Zion Lutheran Church, as well as speaking with a customer or employee at a nearby Taco Bell.
The breakthrough in the search came when investigators determined that Sabatini had secured a ride-share vehicle from the McHenry area to Wisconsin. The driver dropped the pair off at the Greenfield Police Department, located roughly 50 miles north of McHenry.
Greenfield officers confirmed speaking with Sabatini briefly before he and Theo departed the police station on foot around 2:00 p.m. Saturday.
Found Safe in Milwaukee
Fearing for the well-being of the toddler due to the lack of provisions and changing weather conditions, McHenry police issued an urgent appeal to the public on Sunday morning. Images of the father and son—alongside photos showing clothing similar to what they were last seen wearing—were circulated widely across social media platforms.
By 4:15 p.m. Sunday, police updated the public that lead information placed the father and son in the greater Milwaukee area. Just hours later, Milwaukee transit authorities and local police spotted Sabatini and Theo riding a Milwaukee city bus.
Deputy Chief Walsh confirmed in a Sunday night Facebook update that both the father and son were evaluated and found to be safe and completely unharmed.
The McHenry Police Department expressed gratitude to the Greenfield Police Department, the Milwaukee Police Department, and members of the public who shared social media alerts and called in leads.
Authorities have not released further details regarding the circumstances surrounding Sabatini’s trip or why he traveled to Wisconsin on foot with his young son. The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with additional information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact the McHenry Police Department CID at 815-363-2130.
Facebook Post Version (Optimized for Social Sharing)
🚨 UPDATE: FOUND SAFE! 🚨
Wonderful news out of McHenry! 22-month-old Theo and his father, Todd Sabatini, have been found SAFE and UNHARMED aboard a city bus in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Police launched a multi-state search after the father and son didn’t return from a walk on Saturday afternoon. Thanks to swift coordination between McHenry, Greenfield, and Milwaukee law enforcement—plus thousands of shares from the community—both were located safely on Sunday evening.
Thank you to everyone who shared the missing alerts and called in tips to help bring little Theo home safely! ❤️ 👇
🔗 Full details on the search and timeline here: https://usa.freelatestjobalert.com/prince-william-reportedly-rejected-request-for-kate-middleton-to-change-spelling-of-her-name/
#McHenryIL #Milwaukee #FoundSafe #BreakingNews #CommunityAlert #IllinoisNews #WisconsinNews
