A 13-year-old boy with autism who went missing from his Tucson home was found safe nearly 200 miles away in Deming, New Mexico, according to reports from 12 News. After the teen vanished Monday night, his picture was circulated on social media by New Mexico State Police, which led to his identification.
Authorities confirmed on Wednesday the teen was back with his family, with the New Mexico State Police expressing gratitude via social media for the public's assistance in sharing the post that brought a swift end to the search. The boy's family was perplexed by the unexpected journey, with his brother Mikel Desmond recounting to The New York Post, "My mom woke up, and he was no longer in the house, the front door was unlocked and he was just gone."
A missing person flyer was distributed by the family, and local police were informed while they searched the nearby areas for the boy who is unable to communicate verbally, making the ordeal all the more distressing. Later, the family received a pivotal call from the New Mexico authorities on Tuesday evening, who had found the teen after he was spotted in a Walmart.
Mikel Desmond told 12 News, "It's amazing how fast news can spread through social media,” Tucson police are currently looking into the circumstances of the boy’s travel while his family rejoices in his safe return.
The teen had made his way to Walmart, where he attempted to buy food and drinks without money and then hid in the bathroom, he was later found by law enforcement and taken to a local hospital, as Mikel Desmond described in further detail to The New York Post. The family journeyed three hours to reunite with their lost member, sharing an emotional photograph of their reunion at the Deming hospital.
