Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Deputy Finds Missing Child In Family's Refrigerator

A two-year-old boy remains alive today basically because of a hunch by Nevada County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Wally Hulan.

According to Prescott Police Chief Sam Reeder, the Nevada County Sheriff's Office received a call at 11:57 a.m. Wednesday, May 31, from Tina Atkinson saying her son, Christopher, was missing.

Officers from the NCSO and Prescott Police Department were dispatched to the Hazel Street address and began canvassing the area looking for Christopher.

According to Atkinson, the Christopher was only wearing a diaper the last time he'd been seen.

Officers searched the neighborhood, questioned area residents and were unable to find the child.

Around 12:40 p.m., Reeder said, Hulan and officer Kristi Neal returned to the Atkinson home to check it again.

Hulan opened the refrigerator, finding Christopher inside, cold, but alive.

The toddler was taken to Medical Park Hospital in Hope for examination and found to be all right.

According to Reeder, the boy was in the refrigerator for 60 to 90 minutes.