Full Breakdown
Father and Toddler Missing After Afternoon Walk in McHenry Found Safe on Milwaukee Bus
8/10/2026, 1:03:50 PM
Core Event
Todd Sabatini, 36, left his McHenry, Illinois home around noon on Saturday with his 22-month-old son, Theo, for a walk. The pair did not return by late afternoon, prompting a missing-child alert. A stroller was later found behind a local business, and security footage showed them at a Jewel-Osco store, near Zion Lutheran Church, and at a Taco Bell.
Timeline
- Saturday, noon: Sabatini departs with Theo in a stroller.
- Early afternoon: Cameras record the pair inside Jewel-Osco and later at Taco Bell.
- Around 2 p.m.: Sabatini takes a rideshare to Greenfield, Wisconsin, checks in with the Greenfield Police Department (GPD), speaks with an officer, and leaves the station on foot with Theo.
- Late Saturday: McHenry Police Department (MPD) issues a missing-child alert, noting Sabatini’s clean-shaven appearance.
- Sunday morning: Deputy Chief Thomas Walsh confirms Greenfield as the last known location.
- Sunday evening: Police locate Sabatini and Theo on a Milwaukee city bus; both are safe and unharmed.
Official Statements & Responses
MPD emphasized that the disappearance was unusual and that Sabatini lacked supplies for a prolonged trip. The department entered both individuals into law-enforcement missing-person databases and asked the public to share any information. Deputy Chief Walsh reiterated the timeline and confirmed the pair’s safe recovery on a Milwaukee bus. Both MPD and GPD declined further comment on the conversation Sabatini had with the Greenfield officer.
Data & Statistics
- Child’s age: 22 months.
- Father’s age: 36.
- Travel distance: About one hour by rideshare from McHenry to Greenfield.
- Search scope: Coordination between McHenry County, Greenfield, and Milwaukee authorities.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Initial MPD updates suggested the pair might be in Milwaukee based on “reliable information.” Later statements placed their last confirmed location at the Greenfield Police Department, leaving their movements between Greenfield and Milwaukee unclear. The investigation has not explained how they reached the Milwaukee bus or why they boarded it, and no motive has been disclosed.
What’s Next
Police continue to follow leads related to the walk, the rideshare trip, and the brief stay at the Greenfield station. Authorities ask the public to report any information that could clarify Sabatini’s decision to leave the station on foot and the subsequent travel to Milwaukee. The MPD investigation remains open.
