Search for lost dog leads to full-scale rescue mission, missing man found | HO!!!!

Special to WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News

HAYWOOD COUNTY, Tenn. — What began as an ordinary Monday morning in rural West Tennessee quickly spiraled into a tense, 24-hour ordeal that would test the limits of local first responders, the resilience of a family, and the strength of a 63-year-old man determined to bring his lost dog home.

For Steven Troy Roer, July 7 was supposed to be a simple mission: find Baxter, the family’s beloved brown-and-white mutt, who had slipped away from their property near the Big Eddy area. But by nightfall, Roer himself had become the subject of a massive, multi-agency search — a race against time complicated by his serious medical conditions and the unforgiving landscape of the West Tennessee backwoods.

This is the story of how a missing pet triggered a life-or-death rescue, and how a community came together to bring a man and his dog home.

The Disappearance

The day started quietly enough. Roer’s wife, Debra, dropped him off near the Big Eddy boat ramp at 10:00 a.m. “He said he’d check the woods and creek beds where Baxter likes to chase rabbits,” she recalled. “He had his phone, a bottle of water, and an old walking stick. I thought he’d be back by lunchtime.”

But lunchtime came and went. By 2:00 p.m., Debra’s phone buzzed with a text from Steven: “Found Baxter. In chest-high water. Trying to get out.”

That was the last anyone heard from him.

Debra called back, but the call went straight to voicemail. She waited, hoping for another message. By 3:30 p.m., she called 911.

“I knew something was wrong,” she said. “He’s diabetic, he’s on dialysis, and he never misses a treatment. He wouldn’t just disappear.”

The Search Begins

Within minutes, Haywood County deputies arrived at the Big Eddy access point. The search area was daunting: a patchwork of thick woods, swampy lowlands, and flooded backwaters, made worse by recent rains. “It’s easy to get turned around out there,” said Sheriff’s Deputy Marcus Lee. “If you’re not careful, you can walk in circles for hours.”

By nightfall, the search party had grown to include Madison County Fire Rescue, Emergency Management Agency (EMA) teams, and volunteers from surrounding counties. The Tennessee Highway Patrol dispatched a helicopter, its searchlights cutting through the dusk as it circled overhead.

“We searched up until 2:30 this morning,” said Madison County Fire Chief Eric Smith. “We had teams on foot, ATVs, boats, and the chopper in the air. We were worried about his medical needs. Every hour mattered.”

The Medical Stakes

Roer’s health was a critical concern. According to his family, he is a Type 2 diabetic, requiring daily medication and careful monitoring of his blood sugar. More urgently, he undergoes dialysis every other day at the Haywood County Community Hospital. Missing even a single session could trigger a cascade of life-threatening complications: dehydration, kidney failure, cardiac arrest.

“His last dialysis was Sunday,” Debra explained. “He was supposed to go again on Tuesday morning. If he missed, it would be a race to get him stabilized.”

The knowledge ratcheted up the urgency. “We weren’t just looking for a lost hiker,” said EMA Director Tony McNair. “We were looking for someone on the clock, someone who might not survive the night.”

Into the Night

As darkness fell, the searchers pressed on. The helicopter’s infrared camera scanned for heat signatures. Deputies called Roer’s name into the trees, hoping for a response. Volunteers combed the muddy creek beds, their boots sinking into the muck.

“By midnight, morale was fading,” said volunteer rescuer Linda Parker. “We found Baxter’s paw prints, but no sign of Steven. The woods are thick, and the water’s high. We started worrying about snakes, exhaustion, hypothermia.”

At 2:30 a.m., the search was called off for safety reasons. Crews regrouped at dawn, exhausted but determined.

The Breakthrough

The turning point came at 7:15 a.m. Tuesday. Fire Chief Eric Smith, retracing a section of the creek with a new team, spotted something through the underbrush: a flash of brown fur, then the outline of a man on his hands and knees.

“I yelled, ‘Steven!’ and he looked up, dazed,” Smith recalled. “He was disoriented, mumbling, but alive. Baxter was right beside him, wagging his tail.”

Roer had spent nearly 22 hours lost in the woods, much of it wading through chest-deep water, trying to keep Baxter close and avoid the worst of the mud and brambles. He was severely dehydrated, his blood sugar dangerously low, and his skin lacerated from thorns.

“He was lucky,” said Dr. Maya Patel, the ER physician who treated him. “Another few hours and he might not have made it.”

The Rescue

Paramedics stabilized Roer at the scene, then transported him to Haywood County Community Hospital. Baxter, caked in mud and shivering, was given water and a bath by Tennessee Bureau of Investigation personnel.

“Baxter never left his side,” Debra said, tears in her eyes. “He’s the reason Steven kept moving. He said he just couldn’t leave him behind.”

Roer’s ordeal quickly became the talk of the county. “It’s a miracle,” said Sheriff Lee. “A lot of things went right. The weather held, the teams worked together, and Steven didn’t give up.”

Lessons Learned

The rescue also highlighted the dangers of the region’s wild spaces, especially for those with medical vulnerabilities. “We see it every year,” said EMA Director McNair. “People underestimate how quickly things can go wrong. One wrong step, one flooded trail, and you’re in real trouble.”

First responders urge hikers to always carry extra water, a charged phone, a whistle, and a flashlight. “And don’t go alone if you have health issues,” Smith added. “Let someone know your route. It could save your life.”

Community Response

In the aftermath, the community rallied around the Roer family. Neighbors brought casseroles and fresh clothes. Local businesses donated to the rescue teams. “It’s what we do here,” said Parker, the volunteer. “We look out for each other.”

For the first responders, the successful outcome was a rare victory in a job that often ends in heartbreak. “We don’t always get happy endings,” said Chief Smith. “This time, we did.”

Reflections

Back home, Steven Roer is recovering, grateful for the team that found him and the dog who never left his side. “I don’t remember much,” he said from his hospital bed, “just that I had to keep going for Baxter. He’s family.”

Debra, still shaken, says she’ll never take a quiet day for granted again. “I kept thinking, what if I never saw him again? What if Baxter came home alone? But they both made it. That’s all that matters.”

The Takeaway

What began as a routine search for a lost pet became a harrowing test of human endurance, medical risk, and the power of community. For Steven Roer and Baxter, it was a journey through darkness and uncertainty, ending with the bright lights of rescue and relief.

For Haywood County, it was a reminder that even in the most ordinary moments, disaster can strike — and that when it does, neighbors, strangers, and first responders will answer the call.

As Roer prepares to return home, one lesson stands out above all: In the wilds of Tennessee, no one is ever truly alone.