CCSO: search crews find body of missing 5-year-old

COCONINO COUNTY, Ariz. (KSAZ) - A 5-year-old boy who went missing five days ago in Northern Arizona has been found dead.

Search teams discovered the body of Jerold Williams Monday afternoon.

Jerold disappeared in a remote area of the Kaibab National Forest. He was camping with a large group of people near Jacob Lake in Coconino County.

The boy's mother says he wandered off, family members and friends searched for Jerold for several hours before calling authorities.

The search had been going on since that time, but they were unable to find Jerold in time.

More than 500 people combed the woods day and night near Jacob Lake, searching by ground and air for the little boy.

"One of our searchers did discover the body of a small child, we believe it to be the body of our missing 5-year-old Jerold Williams," said Gerry Blair.

The Coconino County Sheriff's Department is investigating the boy's death.

The family was camping in an area not set up for camping or hiking.

Officials say family members had searched on their own for several hours, before calling authorities. The heavy brush and steep hillsides made it difficult for search crews.

Several different state and federal agencies became involved in the search using night vision and thermal imaging equipment.

"We also had search and rescue crews out of Utah, as well as Washington State, we had a lot of help from the Air Force," said Blair.

"A lot of sad folks are frustrated, certainly that wasn't the outcome we had hoped for," said Blair.

The CCSD is not releasing a lot of details including where the boy was found and how he may have died.