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Missing Lauderhill Boy Located

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LAUDERHILL (CBSMiami) - A happy ending to a parent's worst nightmare.

Frantic family members and police spent Wednesday morning searching for a 4-year old Lauderhill boy who went missing.

Just after 1 p.m., police found the boy safe and sound.

CLICK HERE To Watch Joan Murray's Report 

The family told police Malachi Lovelace and his uncle walked to Royal Palm Elementary, at 1951 NW 56th Avenue, Wednesday morning around 7:30a.m. The child s uncle dropped him off, not realizing school was closed for the holiday, according to police.

Officers said they received a call about the missing child around 10 a.m.

Officers and K9s scoured the area around the school.  A bloodhound was brought in to track the boy using his scent.

Fear turned to relief when nearly seven hours later a police officer spotted the child in a yard. Apparently, a family friend saw the child in the school parking lot and took him home.

"The grandmother let the kids out to play and an officer who was helping us form the Sunrise Police Department in the search for the child, saw the kid and put the pieces together," said Major Rick Rocco with Lauderhill Police.

After talking with the boy and his mother, police reunited them. Police said the mother won't face any charges because it was an honest mistake.

"They're helping us every possible way they can. The mother is very distraught. The uncle is obviously beside himself, so it's a very scary situation," said Major Rocco.

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