This little guy was a cubscout and did know some survival skills and that gave hope he would survive and know how to keep warm.
From FNC:
LINCOLN, N.H. — A 10-year-old Massachusetts boy who disappeared in the woods Monday was found dead Friday afternoon, authorities said.
"He has been found. Unfortunately, he is not alive," Sgt. Bruce Bonenfant of the Fish and Game Department said of Patric McCarthy (search).
Patric was found about 2 1/4 miles from where he was last seen.
Searchers had been looking night and day for the boy, from Bourne, Mass. The search contingent swelled to 500 or more at times and used helicopters, dogs, night-vision equipment and even kayaks on the Pemigewasett River (search).
Patric, who celebrated his birthday Sunday at the family condo, was last seen playing with his stepbrothers Monday afternoon about 300 yards away in a playground. The family was getting ready to leave and the boys' father, Steve McCarthy, told them to check back every 15 minutes.
Patric challenged his stepbrothers to a race back to the condo, but he never arrived. Authorities believe he tried a shortcut and made a wrong turn into the dense forest.
Police consistently said they did not suspect foul play, and Will Delker, head of the criminal division of the attorney general's office, said Friday his office was not involved. The office handles all homicides.
Monday was warm, but the area received drenching rain Tuesday and strong winds Wednesday, and temperatures dipped into the 40s and 30s at night.
Search officials and experienced mountaineers warned earlier that Patric could die of exposure. On Thursday, climbing guide and experienced rescuer Steve Dupuis said if Patric was out in the elements, "his chances of succumbing to exposure are pretty good because it's just impossible to keep warm without the right stuff."
Dupuis is a guide with the International Mountain Climbing School (search) in North Conway.
Tony Castagna of Hubbardston, Mass., was among the many volunteer searchers disappointed by the news.
"We thought we were going to find him, especially today. It was a beautiful day. We were just kidding ourselves, I guess," Castagna said.
The condo is in a large development across the Kancamagus Highway from the Loon Mountain ski area. Many were puzzled that anyone could get lost there, but Dupuis said once someone was in the woods, it would be easy to get disoriented and not know the way out.
The McCarthys, married about three years, own the Gray Gables Country Market in Bourne, at the foot of Cape Cod, and are well-known in town. McCarthy bought the market after selling a string of Cape Cod Dunkin' Donuts shops.
New Hampshire first lady Denise Benson joined the hundreds of volunteers at the scene Friday morning
I'm concerned for he was with stepbrother's. What was that relationship like?