TAMPA, Fla. – In a wave of relief for the community and law enforcement, missing 23-month-old Jaylen Johnson has been found safe after a frantic overnight search in Tampa. The toddler, who vanished from his home early Tuesday morning, was recovered along with the family’s red-nosed pit bull, who may have served as the boy’s protector.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chief Deputy Todd Maurer confirmed the good news during a Tuesday press briefing, emphasizing the vital role of community partnership in the successful outcome.
The incident began around 6:44 a.m. Tuesday, when Jaylen’s parents called 911, reporting the toddler missing from their apartment in the 6900 block of Silver Run Drive. The parents, who have two other children, discovered Jaylen missing after they awoke and were preparing for the day.
Chief Deputy Maurer stated that the HCSO launched an immediate and massive response.
“Over 200 personnel—deputies and detectives—descended upon this to make sure that we would leave no stone uncovered,” Maurer said.
The search ended when a good Samaritan neighbor found the child and took him in. Jaylen was located near the intersection of 56th Street and Sligh Avenue.
While the details of how Jaylen, who was wearing long-sleeve dinosaur pajamas, managed to walk out of his home remain under investigation, the outcome is being celebrated as a triumph of collaboration.
“To have a neighbor find a young, a 23-month-old walking the streets… and take him in and keep him safe until he finds us to give him back… I couldn’t be any happier than that,” Maurer commented.
Detectives confirmed that Jaylen was found with the family’s Pitbull, who had also been missing. The chief deputy noted the dangerous location of the recovery, emphasizing that 56th Street and Sly Avenue are busy roads.
“I’d like to think that the young pit bull was keeping OverWatch of young Jaylen,” Maurer said, adding that they were able to recover both the boy and the dog.
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue will check Jaylen and reportedly does not appear to have any injuries. The HCSO is currently working to piece together the exact details of how the toddler got out and how he traveled to the location where he was found.
Chief Deputy Maurer concluded by thanking the public, stating that the successful resolution was not just the work of the Sheriff’s Office, but the “work of the community that keeps this community safe.”
PREVIOUS REPORT: Authorities are mounting an urgent search after a nearly two-year-old boy, wearing distinctive dinosaur pajamas, went missing late Monday night from his Tampa home, possibly accompanied by the family dog.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) is asking the community for immediate help in locating Jaylen Johnson, who is 23 months old. He was last seen around 11 p.m. on Monday, October 27, 2025, in the 6900 block of Silver Run Drive.
According to detectives, Jaylen is believed to have wandered outside his residence sometime before midnight. His only companion may be the family’s red-nosed pit bull.
Jaylen was last seen wearing gray and white long-sleeve dinosaur pajamas. Given the time of night and the child’s age, deputies are canvassing the neighborhood, with the search focused on the Silver Run Drive area. Authorities are appealing to residents to check their properties, yards, sheds, and any unsecured areas where a small child and a dog might seek shelter.
Anyone who has seen Jaylen Johnson or has any information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office immediately.
- Missing Child: Jaylen Johnson, 23 months old.
- Clothing: Gray and white long-sleeve dinosaur pajamas.
- Contact: Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at (813) 247-8200.
READ: Without A Trace: Florida College Student, Tiffany Louise Sessions, Still Missing 36 Years Later
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