Missing Mason Co. boy found alive, hospitalized

BELFAIR, Wash. -- A 10-year-old boy missing for more than a day in Mason County has been found alive.

Search teams found Thomas Lienneweber at a friend's home less than a mile from the Trails End Lake area in Belfair at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. That's where a command post was set up since he disappeared.

The Mason County Sheriff's Office says Thomas has injuries from being exposed to the cold and is being treated at an area hospital.

Mason County Deputy Ryan Spurling credits the effort of all the search crews, volunteers and especially clues from Thomas' schoolmates at Belfair Elementary.

"The school was a huge resource. Using our school's resource officer who knows the kids and they trust him, he was able to communicate with the kids and they gave him tips and it was very important in being able to find him," said Spurling.

Where the tip came from that led to finding Thomas is unknown.

Thomas' mother was in tears pleading for her son to return. Now, those tears are happy tears.

"I can't describe it, I can't even thank everybody enough and the people, the community were out there all night long and it's just amazing," said Anita Monk.