HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – A 96-year-old Lutz man is back home with his family after a search involving multiple specialized units ended with a successful find by a sheriff’s office dog.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office first received a call on May 9, 2026, reporting that Ray Cornett had gone missing from his home. Deputies arrived at the 18000 block of 4th Street Southeast, where they quickly realized the elderly man was in potential danger due to his age and the surrounding terrain.
The search operation drew in various specialty teams from across the agency to canvas the neighborhood and nearby rural patches.
READ: Tampa Man Charged With Felony After Fatal Utility Pole Collision
However, it was K-9 Boomer who ultimately cracked the case. The dog picked up a scent and tracked it into a dense, wooded area just a few hundred yards away from Cornett’s front door.
Upon being discovered in the brush, Cornett was checked by responders and returned home safely. The Sheriff’s Office credited the rescue to the combined efforts of the deputies on the ground, specifically highlighting the work of the K-9 unit.
“A 96-year-old man has been safely located thanks to the great work of #teamHCSO,” the agency stated following the incident.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
