Police in Isabella county say they're getting a number of tips, but have still not found a missing 11-year old boy. Brendan Chobod disappeared from his home yesterday afternoon. Police say they're not ruling out any possible explanation for his disappearance. But the sheriff says sometime tonight they may be able to narrow down the possibilities.Police say their investigation is going well. The mild weather is making the physical search of the woods around the Chobod home easier. More than 70 trained searchers have joined the effort. Sheriff Leo Mioduszewski says by the end of this evening, search teams will have canvassed a 4-5 mile radius around the Chobod home and he'll be confident saying it's not likely the boy wandered off on his own.
In the meantime, the sheriff says police are getting a lot of tips from the toll free tipline. He says he's particularly interested in locating Andrew Smith; believed to be driving a rusty grey GMC van with a red stripe along each side. Smith is described as a neighbor and former babysitter of Brendan's, who's also - as the sheriff says - a big brother or father-type figure to the boy. Smith is not being called as suspect. The sheriff says he continues to be optimistic that this case will end with the Brendan's safe return.
If you have any information that may help in the search for Brendan Chobod you're asked to call the toll free hotline. That number is 866-560-9620.
