Sturgis boy is found

STURGIS, Mich. (WOOD) - A Sturgis boy was found early Thusrday morning after going missing Wednesday.

Joshua Benton Smith, 11, hadn't been seen since hanging out presumably at friends' houses Wednesday afternoon. He was located at a friend's house around 2 a.m. Thursday.

The St. Joseph County Sheriff's Department told 24 Hour News 8 that Smith disappeared at around 5 p.m. near Chicago Road and Nottawa Street.

His parents didn't notice he was missing until around 9 p.m. and then called police. Investigators say Joshua did not go to school on Wednesday for fear of being involved in a fight.

Authorities never thought foul play was involved in his disappearance, therefore an Amber Alert was not issued. But they were assisted by the A Child is Missing Network, which called more than 1,000 area phone numbers to inform the community.