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Crescent City, CA Update: Missing Teen Football Player Damian With Braids Found Safe, While Dakotah Was Located Earlier After Reported Missing

By Robert Spencer

Crescent City, CA Update: Missing Teen Football Player Damian With Braids Found Safe, While Dakotah Was Located Earlier After Reported Missing

Welcome home, Damian and Dakotah.

December 31, 2026

This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on December 30, 2026

Fifteen-year-old Damian Wheat has been safely found, bringing relief to his family and the Crescent City community.

The teenage football player, known for his distinctive braids, was reported missing alongside his brother Dakotah Wheat from their mother’s home around midnight on December 28, 2026.

What began as a frantic search quickly turned into a village-wide effort, with family, friends, and locals rallying to bring the boys home.

The alarm was first raised by their grandmother, Tina Lee Ihediwa, who shared an urgent plea on Facebook:

“Have you seen these two? These are my grandsons, Dakotah and Damian, and they are missing. There is a BOLO out with the police department.”

Via

She described Damian as approximately 5’8″, 140 pounds, with blue/green eyes, brown hair, and noted that he was last seen wearing a tan hoodie, blue jeans with pockets down the sides, and Extra Tuff shoes.

As a player for the Warriors football team, Damian was well-known in the area, adding to the community’s concern for his safety.

The updates came in waves throughout the day on December 29. By around 3 PM, Dakotah had been located, bringing some relief but leaving Damian still unaccounted for.

Tina posted another update:

“as of 3 PM. Dakotah has been found, Damian the one with the braids is still missing.”

Via Facebook

Family members continued sharing leads and appeals, with one witness, Joanna Hohenberger, commenting on Tina’s post that she believed she had seen the boys, asleep on a couch at the Oceanfront Lodge around 11:30 AM that morning.

Lakiesha Mae, another family member, provided more details in her update, expressing exhaustion after searching since 4 AM:

“It is almost 8pm and still not a word on Damian… Dakotah was found around 2-3pm and we went and searched for him until 6pm following more leads… Please keep me updated if you have any leads on Damian’s whereabouts. He was last seen with Beckham Her and Hunter King and Hunter Aguirre.”

Via

The family followed every tip, including passing additional addresses to officers, while thanking supporters for their prayers and vigilance.

The breakthrough came later that evening. At approximately 9 PM on December 29, Damian was located, prompting an emotional update from Tina Lee Ihediwa:

“Update #2 ……. Damian was found at approx 9 pm. Thank you to everyone for keeping your eyes and ears open and alerting us to any thing you seen or heard. It takes a village…… especially in these teen years!! You have my sincere gratitude.”

Via Facebook

Confirmation spread quickly through local channels, including the Del Norte and Curry County Scanner Feed, where James Clifton posted:

“UPDATE….Both kids have now been found…thank you for all the support.”

Via

The rapid resolution highlights the power of the community in small coastal towns like Crescent City.

From Facebook shares and direct messages to on-the-ground searches and police coordination, the collective effort ensured both teens were brought home safely.

While the exact circumstances of their disappearance remain private, the family’s gratitude underscores how much support meant during those tense hours.

Damian found words that brought immense relief to his loved ones and everyone who followed the updates.

In a world that can sometimes feel disconnected, this story reminds us that when a community comes together, it truly does take a village to look out for its own.

Welcome home, Damian and Dakotah.

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Reshma is a content editor recognized for her ability to create engaging digital content, ensure quality, and deliver stories that connect with audiences.

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