PRESCOTT, Wis. - More than 1,000 people showed up at Prescott High School Wednesday to help find 5-year-old Scott Meyer.

Meyer slipped out the front door of his home on Tuesday afternoon after it was left open by an air conditioner repair man.

He was missing for almost 24 hours. Search crews scoured the area Tuesday night but found nothing.

It wasn't until the next day when Jason Moser, a volunteer, and his dog, Autumn, found the 5-year-old half a mile away from his home.

Moser was out the day before to aid in the search. He and his wife, Melissa Moser came out again because they know what it's like for a child to go missing.

"We lost our oldest one at a gathering a couple months ago just for a few minutes and it was the worst few minutes of my life not being able to find him and I wouldn't want anyone to go through that," Melissa Moser said.

The story was the same everywhere. Many volunteers, like Mary Herges were parents of young children.

"We're just parents of two small boys so if it were our kids we'd want people to do the same thing," Herges said.

As relatives waited for Meyer to come home, they have nothing but gratitude for those who gave up their day to give them their little boy.

"Thank you. You do not have any idea what this family has been going through. Our prayers have been answered and for all of you who came, thank you thank you," Brenda Coser, Scott's aunt said.

Crews searched about 850 acres total. Pierce County Sherriff Nancy Hovey said while they had help from a lot of agencies it was volunteers who made the difference.

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