HUDSON – Two teens never went home after school on Monday and a large-scale search involving multiple police agencies ensued. The teens were finally located Tuesday morning about two miles north of Hudson.
According to Hudson Police (HPD), the mother of a 15-year-old boy called the police at 5:15 p.m. on Monday saying that her son had not arrived home from school and she was “concerned”. Shortly thereafter the mother of a 16-year-old girl called the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office to report that her daughter had not come home from school. Both missing teens are Hudson High School students.
The police agencies coordinated an investigation that included Hudson High School SRO Deputy Zach Sahorta searching the school grounds. The Deputy obtained a video that showed the two students, together, exiting the school property west toward a wooded area. HPD officers and Detectives joined State Trooper Justin Bell and Troop K bloodhound Tilly to search the area and trails behind the school. Patrols from HPD, Greenport PD, Columbia County Sheriff’s office, and NY State Troopers continued to check stores, public buildings, abandoned buildings, and trails throughout the night. Temperatures dipped down to 28 degrees, according to police.
At daybreak Tuesday, November 16, 2021, HPD established a command center at their station and initiated various strategies to locate the teens. Detectives checked cell phone information, while patrols conducted interviews and tried to develop leads. Information was put out statewide via the police information network as well as social media. Teams were established to check all possible locations.NYSP Trooper Bell and K9 Tilly
The team of HPD Chief Ed Moore and Sergeant Nick Hodges were checking along the river north of the city. At around 9:25 a.m. on Tuesday. They spotted the youths in a wooded area next to the railroad tracks, two miles north of Hudson. After a brief pursuit on foot, the youths were taken into protective custody by the officers. They were brought back to an awaiting ambulance from the Greenport Rescue Squad and transported to Columbia Memorial Hospital for evaluation. They were later released to their parents.
HPD Chief Ed Moore said “Despite frigid temperatures and strong wind they were in pretty good shape. They had one thin blanket and a small amount of food with them. After spending the night in some woods adjacent the tracks, they had plans to leave the area.” The Chief was impressed with the help provided by the community, adding “What’s really encouraging was the outpouring of support and information sharing on social media. While young people may get lost and forgotten in a big city, our community banded together to demonstrate that we care, and together we are going to locate these kids.”
