NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      CONTACT: Lt. Kevin Toth

DATE: May 7, 2021                                                                      PHONE: 760-839-4444

14 YEAR OLD RUNAWAY BOY FOUND SAFE

On 05/06/2021, an Escondido family called the Escondido Police to report that their 14 year old son had runaway from home.  He did not have a phone with him and they had no way to contact him.  The family worked with the police and informed us that their son has high functioning autism.  During the investigation, the police learned that he had been in communication with a woman from Northern California through a chat forum.  The boy convinced the woman that he was suffering abuse and was planning to run away.  She agreed to assist in relocating him and worked to enroll him in a program in Northern California.

The woman was identified and located by law enforcement.  She was cooperative with authorities and assisted in locating the boy.  He was located in Los Angeles County on 05/07/2021 unharmed.  He is currently with law enforcement officers and is in the process of being transported back to San Diego County.  Investigators are working to determine what possible criminal charges the woman may face.  Numerous federal and local law enforcement agencies assisted in this investigation, including the FBI and the US Marshals.  The Escondido Police are currently working with the family and Child Welfare Services to insure that the boy receives appropriate services.

Please follow the police department via Facebook at www.facebook.com/EscondidoPolice and Twitter and Instagram (@EscondidoPolice).  Text EscondidoPD to 888777 for community alerts from Nixle.

To report any suspicious activities in your neighborhood, you may contact the Police Department directly, or you may make an unidentified call on our “Anonymous Tip Line” at (760) 743-TIPS (8477) or via our Web site at police.escondido.org.

###