Marine Reported Missing On Drive From LA To SD Located

OCEANSIDE, CA – Former U.S. Marine Sgt. Ryan James O’Connor, who was reported missing after not contacting family and friends since Monday as he was driving from Los Angeles to San Diego, was safely located today in the San Diego area, according to an officer from the Los Angeles Police Department.

"He's fine," the police officer said, adding that the 24-year-old had a broken cell phone and car trouble and was unaware he was reported missing.

"Our son Ryan was found alive and well, I want to thank everybody for all the help with the social media and love and prayers, don't know how he was found or any details, but all I know is I'm happy that he's alive," the man's father, Peter O'Connor, wrote Thursday afternoon on Facebook.

"My brother was found alive," sibling Kyle O'Connor also said on Facebook. "With all the help from everyone and the news and social media and the detectives, our family can’t thank you enough."

O'Connor completed his Camp Pendleton-based military service in January after four years, according to his mother, Kathy O'Connor of Middletown, N.J. Her son was visiting his girlfriend at her dorm at the University of California, Los Angeles, before he was to begin the drive to his residence in Santee shortly after noon on Monday, she said.

The lack of communication since Monday afternoon alarmed those who knew the man, which sparked the search.

"He never made it home," acquaintance Darya Camacci said during the search timeframe. "His phone was apparently either dead or broken, and he’d been having car trouble. No one has been able to reach him or has been in contact since."

"For my son to not call, especially this long, is out of normal," his mother said during the time he was reported missing. "It's not him."

No additional details were released by the LAPD.

O'Connor's family from New Jersey worked with UCLA and Los Angeles police departments to help find their son. A Facebook group, Find Ryan, was established Wednesday to help spread the word.

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