Missing Foley Boy Okay

The image of a police officer carrying her son to safety will be etched in Rita Ray's mind forever. Ray's nine-year old son, Deandre Hodges, was missing for nearly three hours Tuesday.

"I checked the parking lots," says Ray. "I even checked the trunks of cars. I was scared. I could hardly breathe."

Deandre was spending the day with his mom who works at the Key West Inn on Highway 59 in Foley. He wandered off to look for a toy and never came back.

"It was so scary and hard," says Ray. "He's my only child."

Police officers, firefighters, motel employees and guests searched frantically for the little boy. With time running out, Deandre was found curled up on the floorboard of a van and treated for heat exhaustion.

"I thank the police so much," says Ray.

"We're just doing what we're paid to do," says Foley Deputy Police Chief Randy Bishop. "We're doing what we love to do and that's help the people of Foley and to protect them and to serve them."

Deandre was treated with Oxygen, fluids and given cold packs. The boy was back at summer camp Wednesday, playing with friends.