On Friday, September 20, at approximately 4:30 p.m., the Leake County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a missing man near 127 Ott Jones Road. The man, identified as Doyle Ferguson, had been lost in a wooded area near his home with his wife, Mrs. Shirley Ferguson.

According to the Leake County Sheriff’s Department, the couple ventured into the woods on Thursday around noon. They ended up losing their way and spending the night in the woods. Mrs. Ferguson eventually found her way out of the woods and told deputies that she had left her husband by a tree to fetch water and help. However, she was unable to find her way back to him.

Leake County Sheriff Randy W. Atkinson called multiple agencies to help with the search. Drones from local agencies and the Winston County Sheriff’s Office were called, along with teams from volunteer fire departments, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks, and Leake County emergency management personnel.

On Saturday afternoon, September 21, Mr. Ferguson was found and transported to the Leake Baptist Emergency Department for medical evaluation. Fortunately, he was found with only minor medical needs.

Sheriff Atkinson expressed his gratitude to all those who helped with the search, including Leake Emergency Management, Leake 9-1-1 Communications, Leake County Volunteer Fire Departments, Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks, and the Winston County Sheriff’s Office.

“Finding this man with only minor medical needs is truly a miracle, and to God be the glory,” Sheriff Atkinson said.