K9 deputy helps find missing Sumter County teen with autism

An autistic Sumter County teenager who was missing for nearly 24 hours on May 27 was located in a swamp with water up to his neck by a deputy and a K-9 duo.

“It’s not about me or Indy getting the credit; we had to find this child, and that was our number one goal,” said Deputy Robert Mata with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.

Mata and her K-9, Indy, are the couple who found 16-year-old Peyton Pickard with autism. They found him up to his neck in water, covered in insect and snake bites.

Mata said they faced multiple challenges, such as the swampy environment and Pickard not being verbal.

“It was virtually impossible to be seen by a helicopter or drone because there are so many people there. The trees are so thick and the water, there are too many trees for a boat to pass through. The only way was to go in and get him out,” Mata said.

He disappeared from his home on May 27. Hundreds of volunteers and deputies spent many hours searching for him.

After nearly 24 hours of searching, the teenager was found safe and sound about a kilometer from his home.

K-9 Indy is only 10 months old and has been with the Sumter County Sheriff's Office for three months. She was donated by Scent Evidence K-9, based in Tallahassee.

Mata said Pickard had already moved away from home. His father has a human odor preservation kit for him.

Mata said Indy was able to use Pickard's scent evidence kit to track him down.

Twenty-two hours after Pickard was reported missing, Mata and Indy spotted a scent.

“We pass the oak tree and everything stops. I looked at him and he was in water up to his neck,” Mata said.

Mata pulled Pickard out of the water. He said Pickard was shivering. Mata gave him his shirt and his hat.

“I didn't know how he survived that. It was 23 and a half hours in the water. He wasn't moving or nothing,” Mata said.

The sheriff's office said Pickard is doing well and is now home with his father.

Mata said he would never forget that day.

“It was amazing, and it was her first discovery. She sealed the deal and solidified our relationship,” Mata said.

The Sumter County Sheriff's Office said county residents can visit their office to get a free scent kit.