Frantic search for missing 2-year-old continues in northern Arizona

RIMROCK, AZ - It's been more than two days since a 2-year-old boy vanished from a northern Arizona campground.

On Monday, search and rescue crews continued to search for Sylar Newton near the Beaver Creek Campground just off of Highway 179 and Interstate 17. Officials said the boy was last seen around midnight Sunday inside a tent while sleeping with family members.

According to Yavapai Sheriff's Office spokesman D'Evelyn, around 1:45 a.m. the family discovered Sylar was missing from his sleeping bag. Family members reportedly searched the area before calling 911 for assistance.

Officials said the woman who reported Sylar missing claimed to be the boy’s mother, but it was later discovered she is his adoptive mother and is currently in the process of gaining custody.

Deputies do not believe any of Sylar’s biological relatives were in the area at the time of his disappearance. At this time, officials said there are no signs of foul play.

The FBI has also been called in for the case. They are interviewing the biological mother to find out the situation surrounding the boy's care.

D'Evelyn said more than 50 personnel responded to the scene as part of the coordinated search effort. A DPS helicopter was also called in on Sunday to do flyovers in the surrounding area.

Specially trained bloodhounds continued a grid search of the area Monday, hoping to pick up any scent of Sylar. Two vehicles were also towed from the site for further inspection.

Officials said they plan to search for at least two to three more days.

As of Monday night, they had searched a five mile radius surrounding the campsite.

Sylar is described as a white male, with light brown hair, blue eyes, approximately 3 feet tall and weighing about 20 pounds. He was wearing only a diaper when he disappeared from the campground.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff's Office immediately via 911 or 928-771-3260.