Where is Hayden? Mystery after boy, 9, has been lacking for 5 years however was only in the near past reported to police | EUROtoday

On December 24, 2019, the Manis household gathered in Muncie, Indiana for a Christmas celebration.

Among them was four-year-old Hayden Manis — a “happy little boy,” his nice aunt Barbara Phillips mentioned. He spent the day having fun with Christmas, opening items, being his “typical self,” his grandfather Gary Manis added.

“Typical Hayden, running back and forth from a grandparent to me to aunt to great grandparents, back to aunt and to uncle,” Gary advised The Independent. “I noticed nothing wrong, nothing at all.”

But the day would quickly tackle a distinct tone, as that will be the final time lots of his members of the family would see Hayden. Now, police say the boy is lacking — and has been since 2020 — however nobody realized till simply months in the past.

“We think he actually went missing sometime in 2020 but, so far, we have not been able to pinpoint an actual date,” Delaware County Sheriff Chief Deputy Jeff Stanley advised 13News.

“I can’t ever remember something quite like this,” Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman advised 13News. “It haunts me every day.”

Here’s what we learn about Hayden Manis’s disappearance:

Hayden’s life earlier than his disappearance

When Hayden was only a yr outdated in 2016, his father Dustin Manis and his mom Terri Williams misplaced custody after they had been arrested on drug-related fees, Gary advised The Independent.

Williams didn’t reply to The Independent’s request for remark.

That’s when Hayden went into Gary’s custody.

“All he ever wanted to do was just be with me, no matter what I was doing,” Gary mentioned of Hayden. “Working on the car, he wanted to do that. Fixing something around the house, he wanted to be right beside me.”

“He loved trying to skateboard,” he added.

Phillips, Hayden’s nice aunt, described him as a “regular, happy little boy.”

“We were always together,” she advised The Independent. “He loved to go to the park.”

But over a yr later, a choose returned Hayden to Dustin’s custody after he accomplished court-ordered probation, drug therapy and counseling, 13News stories. Hayden’s mom was nonetheless incarcerated on the time, Gary mentioned. The Independent has been unable to confirm this declare.

Gary advised The Independent he “completely disagreed” with officers’ determination to return the kid to Dustin, noting his historical past of drug use.

But Phillips had a distinct view, including that Dustin was at all times good with youngsters — particularly Hayden.

“He had already done everything that they’ve asked him to do, and he was not with Hayden’s mother when he got custody back,” she mentioned. “So I thought, okay, maybe he’s on the mend and everything’s all right.”

At first, Gary didn’t see Hayden or Dustin. But quickly sufficient, Dustin wanted extra assist with the younger boy, and Gary and different members of the family frequently noticed the pair.

That is, till issues fell aside after that fateful Christmas Eve celebration in 2019.

Hayden’s kin develop involved

After Christmas 2019, Phillips continued to be in contact with Dustin and would invite him to household occasions by way of Facebook Messenger. But he by no means confirmed.

Then, Phillips obtained one remaining message from Dustin on May 18, 2023.

“Hey aunt barb, I promise on everything all is well,” he wrote,“[I] promise [I’ve] just been having a lot going on try to work on my family that I am making and what not I appreciate u reaching out and checking.”

No one heard from Dustin after that. But then, Hayden’s great-grandparents occurred to satisfy up over a yr later and the story started to unravel, in keeping with Gary.

Hayden’s great-grandmothers bumped into one another at a grocery retailer in September. One requested how Hayden was doing, and the opposite responded Dustin mentioned he was put in his mom’s custody not lengthy after he moved, Gary advised The Independent.

But the story didn’t add up, Gary mentioned. Family members contacted the police, who later went to interview Dustin. He advised them the same story, claiming Hayden was together with his mom — however authorities later confirmed that was a lie and the Department of Child Services by no means positioned Hayden together with her, 13News stories.

Williams even posted about her Hayden’s disappearance on Facebook in September.

“I never thought i would have to make a post like this but if anyone has any information on the where abouts of my son Hayden Manis please contact me or the Delaware county police department,” she wrote.

“The last known location I have for him is in the Muncie, Indiana area,” she added. “I am begging anyone that knows anything about Hayden to please come forward.”

Police examine Hayden’s disappearance

Police have searched a house in Eaton, the place Dustin lived as just lately as final yr, 13News stories. Police additionally searched a house in Muncie the place Hayden and Dustin reportedly lived together with Dustin’s former girlfriend and her household, in keeping with 13News.

But they by no means discovered Hayden.

Dustin’s former girlfriend and her father have since bought that Muncie residence and moved out of state, 13News stories. The transfer was deliberate lengthy earlier than the investigation began and so they have each cooperated with investigators, her father advised 13News.

In November 2024, Muncie police arrested Dustin on drug fees. He then died on December 15 from a drug overdose — leaving police in an much more troublesome scenario.

Hayden can be ten years outdated in May of this yr.

But investigators are nonetheless hopeful — and are nonetheless working to search out him.

“Just because Dustin Manis is dead does not mean the investigation is dead. We’re still going forward,” Hoffman, the Delaware County prosecutor, advised 13News.

The investigation can be difficult by the truth that police imagine Hayden has been lacking for 5 years now — and could also be useless, given nobody has been in a position to find him.

Hoffman advised 13News he not believes the boy is alive.

“It’s haunting. It’s definitely haunting, some of the facts of this case,” Hoffman mentioned.

“There are very few days I come to this office and I don’t think about Hayden Manis,” he continued. “This case is on my mind, and it’s on the investigators’ minds on a daily basis. We’re not going to stop until we get to an answer. We need to know the truth.”

When contacted by The Independentthe Delaware County Sheriff’s Office declined to share extra data, citing the continuing investigation. Hoffman was additionally unable to supply any updates to The Independent.

Anyone with data on Hayden ought to contact the Delaware County Sheriff’s Investigations Division at 765-747-7881.