UPDATE: Talon Laccone and Eric Hisle have been found safe, according to the Laccone family.
Moore County first responders are assisting Randolph County in searching for two 18-year-old Caucasian males who were last seen near Saving Grace Baptist Church in Ramseur on Sunday at 12:15 p.m.
Their names are Eric Hisle and Talon Laccone. The two friends planned to tube down Deep River and get out at the Bennett Road Bridge.
The boys’ parents told Sandhills Sentinel that they had researched this route for about a month, monitoring water levels and the current. Both boys have high-functioning autism.
Eric’s father said he dropped the boys off with their connected tubes, blue oars, blue life vests and water shoes. It was supposed to be a 3-hour tubing expedition, but as of 8:30 p.m., the boys still have not shown up at the bridge.
They did not take their phones with them. They didn’t have flashlights either, since it was supposed to be daylight when they finished.
The Randolph County Sheriff’s Department has its mobile command center stationed near the Bennett Bridge rendezvous.
They are currently utilizing drones, boats, four-wheelers, and people walking along the river banks. A helicopter will also be dispatched to aid in the search.
If you see the teens, please call 911.
Photos of Talon Laccone (left) and Eric Hisle provided by their families.
To sign up for the free Sandhills Sentinel breaking news and weekly e-newsletter, please click here.
~ Written by Sandhills Sentinel reporter Megan Hall.
