BEDFORD COUNTY (WSLS 10) - The search continues in Bedford for a missing teen with autism who is believed to be in danger.
Timothy Kilpatrick, 18, was last seen walking away from his home along Jopling Road at about 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Neighbors and the Bedford County Sheriff's Office told us the 18-year-old has walked off on his own before; however, he's always been found nearby and no more than a few hours later.
Searching by sky and by ground, more than 30 neighbors and law enforcement officers from multiple agencies have been looking all day to find him.
"We have no idea where he is," said Maj. Ricky Gardner with the Bedford County Sheriff's Office.
"The fear, I think for everybody, is the length of time he's been missing," said neighbor Louis Varca. "I'm going along the ravines, the deep areas; he could be hurt and that's what I'm scared of.
"In the past we've dealt with this young man and his father and he's never been missing this long," continued Gardner.
Gardner added Timothy was wearing a tracking bracelet, but his father took it off to charge just before Timothy left the house.
The CEO of Saint Vincent's Home, a care center for those with disabilities, said a person with autism, like Timothy, who can't communicate or understand dialogue can get scared and hide from help.
And on the road driving in search of Timothy, is former bus driver Stephanie Kroger whose son also has autism.
"It's a scary feeling knowing that you have a child like this and they wonder off and you don't know where they're at," said Kroger. "It's like someone stab's you in the gut."
Gardner said the fear is that as more time passes, chances become slimmer of finding Timothy unharmed. Neighbors and law enforcement said they will continue searching into the evening in hopes of finding Timothy.
"We're going to keep looking," said Gardner. We're not going to give up. We'll keep looking."
We've reached out to Timothy's father who did not want to comment.
Timothy was last seen wearing a blue shirt, tan shorts and slippers. Anyone traveling in the area of Big Island Highway and Jopling Road is urged to use extra caution in case he is seen walking in the roadway.
If you have seen Timothy please call 911, the Bedford County Sheriff's Office at 540-587-5690, Virginia State Police AT #77 (CELL), OR 540-380-5700 (1-800-VACHILD).