Police tear up floors of parents’ home in search for missing boy - kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and Killeen

(WOAI) NEW BRAUNFELS - There are new developments as police investigate the disappearance of 18-month-old Joshua Davis Junior who went missing Friday in New Braunfels. Police have removed portions of the base of the parent's mobile home to search for clues. Texas Rangers and cadaver dogs are involved in the search.

The search radius has been expanded to a one mile area which includes neighbors' homes, nearby ditches and hard to reach areas. Officials tell News 4 WOAI this is a recovery effort, and not a rescue effort.

Since two nights of temperatures as low as 20 degrees have passed, "if he was exposed in the wooded area around his family's home, there's little chance that he could have survived those conditions," New Braunfels Police Lt. Michael Penshorn explained.

This has not deterred the family. They have been passing out fliers, and not giving up hope.

The family received a false alarm Sunday. The mother got the call she'd been praying for: he was found safe at a camper several miles away in Comal County. After Sabrina Benitez and her relatives raced to the police department, they learned it was just a rumor posted on Facebook.

"I believe he's still out there," she said. "He might be sick, but I believe he's still out there. He's still out there for us."

Penshorn said no suspicious persons or vehicles were reported in the area that night and they have no evidence to suggest foul play. However, investigators haven't ruled out any possibilities.

Benitez insisted that her son had been abducted, however, police believe the child wandered off.

Benitez said she and her boyfriend, Joshua's father, have been interviewed multiple times and relatives have undergone polygraph examinations.

More than 100 police, fire and other officials combined with volunteers to search for Joshua. His parents say Joshua was last seen inside his home before disappearing. Department of Public Safety Troopers, Comal and Guadalupe County Sheriff's deputies, the Travis County Search and Rescue Team and the Heidi Search Center have searched for the missing boy. No volunteers were used Sunday.

Police were called to their mobile home shortly before 8:40 p.m. Friday. Joshua's parents told investigators they last saw him inside their home on the 2600 block of Savannah Hill Circle just 20 minutes before calling police. Firefighters and police searched inside and underneath the home with no luck. They then searched inside and around every home on the street.

Joshua was last seen wearing a blue and red long sleeve shirt and beige jeans with black and white socks. If you have any information, contact New Braunfels Police at (830) 221- 4100.