MBTA Transit Police located 17-year-old Cole Davison on Friday morning after a large, multi-agency search that began in Needham.
NEEDHAM, MA — A 17-year-old Needham High School student who had been missing since Wednesday night was found Friday morning at Boston’s South Station, ending an extensive search involving local, state and regional public safety agencies, police said.
Cole Davison was located by MBTA Transit Police and was expected to receive care from medical professionals at a local hospital, according to Needham police. Authorities did not publicly provide details about his medical condition or explain how he came to be at South Station. Police asked the public to give Davison and his family privacy as they focused on his care and well-being.
Davison had last been seen Wednesday night in the South Street area of Needham. His disappearance prompted an intensive search beginning Thursday as police said they were concerned about his safety. Police Chief John Schlittler also cited incoming cold and wet weather as a concern while officers sought information from residents and expanded the search into surrounding areas.
The operation brought together Needham police and firefighters, Metro-LEC Search and Rescue personnel, K-9 teams, drone operators and other agencies. Massachusetts State Police also assisted, including with aerial resources. Search teams examined neighborhoods, wooded areas and sections of the Charles River as authorities worked to locate Davison and determine whether he was in immediate danger.
Drones equipped with thermal imaging technology were among the tools used during the search. Police repeatedly asked residents and other members of the public not to enter active search areas on their own, explaining that additional people could create heat signatures that teams would then have to investigate. Authorities said that could slow the search and divert resources from finding Davison.
Police also issued alerts seeking help from the community and released information about what Davison might have been wearing. During the search, officials said there was no indication that he was armed, had threatened anyone or presented a known danger to the public. The focus of the operation, police said, was checking on his well-being and locating him as quickly as possible.
The search drew significant attention across Needham, where Davison is a senior at Needham High School. School officials said his disappearance caused concern among students and staff, and administrators and counselors offered support as the search continued. After learning that he had been found, school officials expressed relief and said the community would give Davison and his family space.
Needham police credited cooperation among local, state and regional agencies with helping bring the search to an end. Schlittler said the coordinated work of the agencies involved led to Davison being located. The department also thanked residents for sharing information, sending tips and supporting the search during the roughly two-day period in which Davison was missing.
Police have not released further details about the circumstances surrounding Davison’s disappearance or his time away from home. Authorities said their immediate focus after he was found was his medical care and his family’s privacy, and no additional public search efforts were needed.
Author note: Last updated November 14, 2026.