The search for 16-year-old Bless Lewis, who was reported missing from Miami Gardens, has concluded as authorities have confirmed that the teen has been found safe. The Florida Missing Child Alert that was issued yesterday by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has been subsequently canceled, easing concerns for his wellbeing.
Lewis, a nonverbal teenager on the autism spectrum, had been last seen leaving his home on foot along Northwest 32nd Place, near 201st Street, with the Miami Gardens Police Department leading the search efforts after his disappearance at around 5:55 p.m. yesterday, he stands 6 feet tall, weighs approximately 140 pounds, has black hair in dreadlocks, and brown eyes, at the time he was wearing a dark gray hoodie along with black and gray pajama pants and he may have been barefoot, according to the information provided by the authorities.
In a statement obtained by WSVN, the Miami Gardens Police specified that detectives had noted Lewis's autism diagnosis and nonverbal status, factors that heightened the urgency of the search. The community was asked to be on the lookout and to alert authorities with any possible information regarding his whereabouts.
The cooperation between the community, local authorities, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement proved fruitful when the teen was found safe, details about where and how he was located have not been released but the local community and Lewis's family can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that he is unharmed, for those seeking more information or in future instances where a child may go missing, the FDLE's Missing Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse can be contacted at 1-888-FL MISSING (1-888-356-4774) or the Miami Gardens Police at 305-474-2100.
Further details about Lewis's condition and circumstances that led to his safe return are still forthcoming, yet the prompt dissemination of information and the alert system has once again shown their value in community safety and child protection efforts. The case of Bless Lewis is a reminder of the critical role that quick and efficient communication plays in resolving such instances. According to a report from Local10, community awareness and participation were instrumental in these efforts to successfully locate the young teen.
