Alijah Kensinger: Tennessee issues amber alert for six-year-old who went missing ‘playing in the woods’

Dog reportedly returned home without boy as search underway

Alijah Kensinger, 6 (Tennessee Bureau of Investigations )

Tennessee authorities have issued an amber alert for missing six-year-old Alijah Kensinger, who reportedly went missing after playing in woods near his home.

An alert was issued on Thursday night by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) for Alijah, who said he “went to play in the woods” near his home but did not return.

“We need your help to find six-year-old Alijah Kensinger, who is missing from Tellico Plains in Monroe County,” the bureau said in an alert.

“He went to play in the woods near his home in the area of New Highway 68 in Tellico Plains this afternoon and hasn’t been seen since”.

He was last seen wearing jeans, a grey hooded jacket with a red zipper, and orange and black sneakers. The TBI added that he is four foot, weighs 55 pounds, and has sandy brown hair and brown eyes.

According to WVLT-TV, Alijah had been under his grandmother’s watch on Thursday afternoon and his family dog did return home and wet – but without Alijah. That however remains to be confirmed.

“We think he’s gone in the woods, gotten turned around, possibly injured himself and couldn’t find his way back.” said Detective Jason Phillyew to the news station.

Two helicopters from Tennessee Highway Patrol have been taking part in the search, as well as a TBI plane.

A search that began on Thursday night reportedly resumed on Friday morning, with more than 100 people taking part.