NCMEC Honors Idaho State Police Trooper and Communications Center Supervisor

Every year, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC) honors people who go above and beyond to help protect our nation’s most valuable resource – our children. On May 11 NCMEC celebrated its 2023 HEROES at the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. Among the recipients, NCMEC is proud to honor the heroic actions of Idaho State Police Trooper David Wesche and Idaho State Police Communications Center Supervisor Ray Shute, who played an instrumental role in rescuing 11-year-old missing child, Gabriel Daugherty, from a remote wilderness in Idaho. When Trooper Wesche noticed the same vehicle parked on the side of the road for over a week, he knew something wasn’t right. His keen instincts and persistence sparked an investigation that crossed the country, more than 2,000 miles away to a parental child abduction in LaGrange, Georgia. Despite the challenges posed by the remote location and lack of communication, Trooper Wesche worked closely with Communications Center Supervisor Shute to gather crucial information and launch a full-scale missing child investigation. Trooper Wesche and his team worked tirelessly to navigate dangerous terrain and ultimately found Gabriel and taking parent, Addam Daugherty. They were sick and weak, but alive. Daugherty was taken into custody and extradited back to Georgia to face the charge of interstate interference with custody. NCMEC commends the bravery and dedication of Trooper Wesche and Communications Supervisor Shute, who saved Gabriel's life and returned him home safely to his mother.