KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Family members reported Taylor Boyle missing on Tuesday and deputies launched a search. He disappeared on Sunday morning.
Cameron Williams is one of Boyle's friends and said they reached out to other friends and family to help search for him.
"He had left a buddy of ours in the Fountain City area, he was headed from Fountain City to Heiskell, which is north of the Powell area, so we kind of had a good idea of where he came from and where he was going to," Williams said. "He told our buddy, he was grabbing McDonald's for breakfast and headed his way."
When Boyle never arrived at his destination on Sunday, and people who knew him got suspicious. Williams said his disappearance was out of the ordinary.
"We started contacting all his friends and just people that he normally hangs out with. His phone was off," Williams said. "Several of us kind of had a gut feeling that he was lost somewhere in the woods."
One of the groups looking for Boyle pushed through obstacles, Williams said. When they finally found Boyle it was dark outside and had to put flashlights on the spot he had fallen into.
"They were about to call it for the night. They were they wanted to go look at this one last turn," Williams said. "And they saw his bike down in the woods."
They immediately called 911, and Williams arrived at the scene soon after. When first responders pulled Boyle out, Williams said he was relieved and grateful to the people who found him.
"I wanted to kind of give recognition to Brandon and Ron French, Chase Lovelace, Chase Goins for not giving up and sticking it out and finding him," Williams said. "He seemed to be pretty coherent and awake and not in pain. So I think we really lucked up this time."