A missing 9-year-old boy with Autism was found dead along railroad tracks near Coulterville Road Sunday night.  We talked to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s office as well as the Rhea county Sheriff’s office who originally reported the child had been found safe.

Timothy Wallace was reported missing from his family’s Leggett Road home in Sale Creek around 10 p.m. Sunday.

Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department Spokeswoman Janice Atkinson said he was found less than a mile away from his home around 11 p.m.

Thc child, who is non-verbal, left his home wearing no shoes and his family didn’t know which direction he went.

“Its a very sad situation,” said Atkinson. “I feel for the parents and I feel for the emergency responders who’ve been out looking for the child because you always want a successful end to a search such as this.”

The Sale Creek Fire Department, deputies and Hamilton County Special Tactics and Rescue Services combed the area.

The sheriff’s office has not yet released a cause of death.

Stay with Channel 3 for more on this developing story.