Paralyzed Wisconsin boy disappears without his wheelchair — where he was found only deepens the mystery

Brighton Muth, a 15-year-old paraplegic boy from Monroe, Wisconsin, who requires a wheelchair, vanished from his home late Friday, September 12, 2025, without his mobility aid.

Thankfully, authorities located him the following day in dense foliage on his own property. However, so far, the circumstances of his disappearance and how he ended up where he was found have not been explained.

According to reports, Muth disappeared around 9:30 p.m. on Friday from his residence on Monroe’s west side. He needs a wheelchair, and, according to official statements, that chair was left behind when he went missing. Because of this, law enforcement believed he might be crawling or somehow otherwise making his way without assistance. His clothing status was also a concern, with reports saying he may have been very minimally clothed when he vanished.

When Muth was reported missing, the Monroe Police Department, along with Monroe Fire, Green County Sheriff’s Office, EMS, and others, launched a full search of the area. Authorities deployed a K-9 unit to help.

Where Muth was found

The next day, Wisconsin authorities found Muth Brighton safe in the early afternoon near his own home in some thick bushes at the edge of the property. Police Chief Fred Kelley said in a press statement that a firefighter discovered Muth hiding in the bushes at approximately 3:14 p.m.

Authorities canceled the statewide alert after Brighton was located. But investigations continue into how he became separated from his wheelchair, what led him to shelter in those bushes, and whether any foul play or a medical episode was involved.

Several aspects of Muth’s disappearance deepen the mystery. How he ended up in the bushes without his wheelchair remains unclear, as his paraplegic condition makes it difficult to imagine him getting there on his own without crawling or being moved by someone else.

The location itself also raises questions: the bushes were close to his home, suggesting he never traveled far, yet searchers did not find him immediately. Equally uncertain is his physical and mental state when he was located, since officials have not confirmed whether he suffered injuries, dehydration, or shock. Adding to the uncertainty is the lack of detailed law enforcement press releases, with most information instead coming from local news coverage and brief updates posted by the Monroe Police Department on social media.