Florida police dog Boomer locates missing 96-year-old man in woods

A 96-year-old man was brought home safely because one trained police dog could do what a larger search could not. Ray Cornett, who was reported missing from the 18000 block of 4th Street Southeast in Lutz, Florida, was found alive after Boomer followed his scent through wooded, swampy ground and led officers straight to him.

Cornett was last seen inside his home at about 11:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, May 9, 2026. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said multiple specialty units were already searching the area when Boomer made the breakthrough in the north Tampa suburb, about 15 miles from Tampa. The sheriff’s office described Cornett as a “missing and endangered” person, a label that underscored the urgency of finding him quickly.

Body-camera video captured the moment the search changed. Boomer arrived at the home, was introduced to Cornett’s belongings, and picked up the scent before heading into the woods. That sequence is a clear look at why tracking dogs remain such a valuable part of emergency response: they can isolate a live trail fast, cut through uncertainty, and direct deputies to a person before a sprawling search burns more time.

Cornett was found stuck and immobile in a wooded area several hundred yards from home, but he was safe and uninjured. He was returned to his family after the find, ending a tense search in terrain that would have been difficult for even experienced ground crews to cover efficiently. One account identified Boomer as a bloodhound, a breed built for this kind of work, with the nose power and persistence to keep pushing when the scent is faint and the clock is working against the person lost.

For families, deputies, and anyone who follows working dogs, this was the best possible outcome. Boomer’s performance turned a high-risk missing-person call into a rescue, and it offered a sharp reminder of how much can ride on the drive of a single K9 team when a vulnerable older adult disappears into the woods.