Early on the morning of February 6, 2026, residents of North Judson, Indiana, awoke to a blaring Amber Alert on their phones—a call to action from authorities searching for 2-year-old Saxon Clemons, believed to have been abducted and in grave danger. By the time the sun had fully risen, the urgent message had traveled across the state, and the small town of North Judson, with its population of just about 2,000, found itself at the center of a harrowing search.
According to multiple reports, including those from WLS, WSBT, and WFIE, the ordeal began the previous afternoon. At around 3 p.m. on February 5, 2026, Saxon Clemons—described as two feet, four inches tall, weighing 30 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes—was last seen in North Judson. He was wearing a blue and gray sweatshirt and matching sweatpants, a detail repeated in every Amber Alert update as authorities desperately tried to get the word out.
The suspect was quickly identified as Saxon’s father, 44-year-old Dwayne Clemons. Clemons, a white male standing five feet nine inches tall and weighing 180 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, was believed to be driving a silver 2017 Chevrolet Trailblazer with Indiana license plate CRS242. The vehicle description became a critical piece of the puzzle as law enforcement and the public scanned highways and neighborhood streets for any sign of the missing child.
The backstory, as pieced together from the Starke County Sheriff’s Office and coverage by WSBT and WTHR, was deeply troubling. Police say Dwayne Clemons assaulted his wife—Saxon’s mother—on the afternoon of February 5, leaving her with head trauma. After the alleged assault, Clemons reportedly dropped his injured wife at a local hospital before fleeing the area with their young son. Investigators found evidence supporting the mother’s account, and the seriousness of the situation escalated rapidly when it was revealed that Clemons was believed to be armed with a .45 caliber pistol. The mother told police that Clemons had threatened her with the weapon and had also made threats of self-harm.
“The child has been located safely. The alleged suspect, Dwayne Clemons, remains at large,” Starke County Sheriff Jack Rosa said in a statement quoted by WTHR on the morning of February 6. The relief was palpable, yet the danger was far from over. Authorities continued to use “all available resources in the ongoing investigation to take Clemons into custody,” as the sheriff’s office emphasized in a Facebook post and repeated in local press briefings.
As the Amber Alert spread throughout Indiana, it was delivered to smartphones around 6:05 a.m., and quickly amplified through social media and news outlets. The community’s response was swift, with neighbors and strangers alike on high alert for any sign of the child or the suspect’s vehicle. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at the Clemons’ home overnight, but neither Dwayne nor Saxon was found there. With every passing hour, concern mounted for the toddler’s safety.
The Amber Alert was canceled shortly before 10 a.m. on February 6, after authorities confirmed that Saxon had been found safe. Details about how or where the child was located have not been released, and the search for Dwayne Clemons continues. As of the latest updates, Clemons remains at large, and authorities urge anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact the Starke County Sheriff’s Office at 574-772-3771 or call 911. Police stress that Clemons is considered armed and dangerous, and the public should not approach him if spotted.
The urgency and gravity of this case have ignited renewed discussion about the Amber Alert system itself. As reported by IndyStar, the Clemons case unfolded amid debate at the Indiana Statehouse about possible reforms to the alert process. Just weeks earlier, a separate tragedy—the abduction and murder of Fishers teenager Hailey Buzbee—had exposed potential gaps in the current system, as her case did not initially qualify for an Amber Alert. Lawmakers and advocates are now questioning whether the criteria for issuing such alerts are too restrictive, and whether more flexible standards could help save lives in future cases.
For the residents of North Judson, the events of February 5 and 6 were a stark reminder of how quickly domestic violence can spiral into a crisis with far-reaching consequences. Investigators say the chain of events began with an assault in the family home, leading to a hospital visit, a desperate flight, and a statewide search for a missing child. The fact that Saxon was ultimately found safe is a testament to the speed and coordination of law enforcement, as well as the vigilance of the public.
But the story is not over. Dwayne Clemons, described by investigators as armed and potentially unstable, is still at large. “Anyone who has information about Clemons’ whereabouts is asked to contact the Starke County Sheriff’s Department at (574) 772-3771 or 911,” authorities repeated in every news release and public statement. The safety of the community—and the pursuit of justice for the Clemons family—now hinges on finding and apprehending the suspect.
The Clemons case also highlights the delicate balance that law enforcement must strike between acting quickly to protect children and ensuring that alerts are not overused or ignored. Amber Alerts are reserved for the most serious cases involving children believed to be in imminent danger, and require specific information about the suspect and vehicle to be issued. Silver Alerts, by contrast, are more commonly used for missing adults or children who may be endangered but do not meet the Amber Alert criteria. As WTHR explained, both types of alerts are vital tools, but each comes with its own set of rules and limitations.
While the search for Dwayne Clemons continues, the town of North Judson is left to process the events of a tumultuous 24 hours. For many, the safe recovery of Saxon Clemons is cause for celebration and relief. For others, it is a sobering reminder of the dangers that can lurk behind closed doors, and the importance of swift, coordinated action when a child’s life is on the line.
With the Amber Alert canceled and Saxon safe, attention now turns to finding Dwayne Clemons and ensuring that justice is served. The community waits, hopeful that the next update will bring closure—and perhaps a measure of peace to a family and a town shaken but not broken by crisis.