Ryker Webb, a 3-year-old boy who went missing for two days in rural Montana, was found two miles away from his Montana home in the middle of the wilderness. His story is circling social media right now, predominantly on TikTok.

On June 3rd, 2022, Ryker Webb disappeared after playing with his dog outside his family home. His father had left him alone for a few minutes, but when he returned Ryker had supposedly walked into the forest. Two hours after he disappeared, the police were called and a search party was sent to find the missing boy.

Two days later, a Montana couple discovered Ryker in their small shed outside their cabin after hearing the noises of a little boy. This small shed is where the couple’s generator was stored for their cabin, which is how Ryker stayed safe and warm. He was found in an area highly infested with mountain lions and bears. When the couple discovered the missing boy, he was wide-eyed and terrified. The shed where he was found was located a startling two and a half miles away from his home.

Police are questioning why Ryker’s parents waited at least two hours to report the child missing. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said Ryker was located after an expansive search that involved a “steady presence of ground searchers and ATVs, several drones and dog teams.”

Ryker’s story has turned into a viral crime phenomenon due to the uncertainty of the situation. The investigation is still open, but the public has derived its own suspicions. Some believe that he may have been kidnapped, which is how he ended up miles away from his family. Ryker’s parents also told police that he was not wearing the same clothes he was when he went missing. Others enjoy the theory that skin-walkers were involved. Skin-walkers are known in Navajo culture as harmful witches who can disguise themselves as or possess animals.

After Ryker was found, photos of him after the incident were released to the public. Many believe that the boy who returned as “Ryker,” may not be him after all. Public comments claim that his head shape is different, his eyes changed, or his nose is not the same. A DNA test was done that some on TikTok are saying confirms suspicions that Ryker was not the same boy. Ryker was said to have experienced shell shock, an initial reaction that occurs after a very traumatic event, similar to PTSD.

This past month, a video was released on Tiktok of Ryker talking to his brother about the incident. He said he saw a house in the woods, and there was someone in the house. Ryker is four and a half years old now, but the public believes it will be a few years before he is able to communicate the whole story.

Ryker has returned to his family since the incident and has been safe and healthy ever since, although no one is sure what happened to the young boy.