Toddler Found Walking Along River Alone And Barefoot

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A 3-year-old boy is safe with his father after he was found wandering by a river alone in Washington County.

Police say the boy walked almost a quarter-mile barefoot to the Monongahela River in Millsboro, a village of East Bethlehem Township.

It's unclear how long he was out for, but he was spotted by 19-year-old Alyssia Johnson who had just let her dog out for a walk.

Johnson then scooped up the little boy, whose feet were hurting from walking barefoot, and carried him around for an hour as she knocked on doors nearby in search of his parents.

When she was unsuccessful, Johnson called 911.

After police showed up, allegedly the boy's grandmother - identified as 43-year-old Denene Morris - showed up and told police her grandson was missing. Then, police say when they told her they had the missing boy, the woman became loud and combative.

The grandmother was then arrested and taken to the Washington County Jail on $20,000 bond. She is facing charges of resisting arrest and child endangerment.

East Bethlehem Township Police Chief Mark Pompe said he gives Johnson all the credit for returning the boy safely.

"I give Alyssia all the credit for saving this little boy's life," said Chief Pompe.

The toddler was eventually taken to stay with his father, but the boy had his own way of thanking Johnson for her help.

"At the end of it all, I told him bye and he kissed me goodbye," said Johnson. "His way of saying thank you."

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