Deputy Finds Abandoned Six-Year-Old Behind Gas Station After 24 Hours Alone

Authorities in Jefferson County are crediting the compassion of a veteran deputy for rescuing a six-year-old boy who had been left behind a local gas station for nearly an entire day.

Deputy Mark Carter, who has spent ten years on the night shift, responded to a routine call late Tuesday regarding a person sleeping behind the Quick-Stop convenience store. Expecting to find an intoxicated adult, Carter approached the back of the building with his flashlight, prepared to issue a warning.

Instead, he discovered a child curled on a piece of cardboard near a dumpster. The boy, later identified as six-year-old Mateo, was wearing an oversized, dirty hoodie and no shoes. He was visibly shaking, clutching a small backpack against his chest.

Carter immediately de-escalated the situation. He sat beside the boy on the cold pavement and spoke to him quietly, attempting to gain his trust. Through tears, Mateo explained that his mother had dropped him off the day before, telling him to wait while she went to get gas. She never returned.

Investigators believe the child remained behind the store for approximately 24 hours, too frightened to leave the spot where he had last seen his mother. The boy had no food, no water, and no indication of when — or whether — she would come back.

Carter comforted the child until he calmed enough to stand. He then carried him to his patrol car and transported him to safety. Mateo was placed into emergency foster care later that evening as the search for his mother continues.

Since the incident, Deputy Carter and his wife have remained closely involved, visiting the boy weekly and providing clothing, toys, and emotional support. Child welfare officials report that Mateo is adjusting well and receiving ongoing care.

Authorities emphasize that the investigation is ongoing and that abandonment charges may be filed once the mother is located. Meanwhile, Carter’s actions have been widely praised within the department as an example of empathy guiding effective policing.