Crime & Safety
FBI Video Shows Discovery Of Missing Autistic South Jersey Teen After 36-Hour Search
The 17-year-old was found curled up against a tree in a heavily wooded area after walking away from his Egg Harbor Township home.
EGG HARBOR TWP., NJ — A video released by the FBI shows how a missing 17-year-old autistic boy was found deep in a wooded area.
The teen walked away from his Egg Harbor Township home on March 20, police said.
A nearly 36-hour search for him ended when he was seen curled up next to a tree just before midnight on March 21 thanks to the FBI's Critical Incident Response Group plane, according to the FBI.
Find out what's happening in Gallowayfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Agents made contact with the teen at 12:30 a.m. on March 22 and began the trek out of the cold woods. Temperatures had dropped to 35 degrees, according to the FBI.
"This successful outcome was the result of an extraordinary, unified effort at every level—community-wide, county-wide, state-wide, and federal," Egg Harbor Township police said.
Find out what's happening in Gallowayfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The teen was reunited with his family at 1:38 a.m. March 22.
"Thank you to all the first responders and law enforcement from the local, state and federal agencies - who demonstrate why our partnerships save lives," the FBI said.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
