A Florida mother received the news that her missing teenage son had been found safe while standing beside the local sheriff at a press conference, appealing for public assistance.
Benjamin Adcock, 16, who has schizophrenia and autism, was last seen on Saturday walking away from his family's residence in St. Augustine. The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office (SJSO) dedicated significant resources to the search, deploying K9 units, drones, helicopters, and collaborating with a volunteer civilian search group.
During a press conference on Monday, held after two days of intensive searching, Adcock's mother, Olga, was speaking with Sheriff Robert Hardwick. As the sheriff provided an update on the case, an individual off-camera announced that the teen had been found.
"Oh my goodness gracious. Okay," the sheriff responded, turning to comfort the emotional mother. "Praise the Lord. Oh, my soul. Wow. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you so much," she said.
Sheriff Hardwick assured the mother that the sheriff's office would assist in obtaining a tracking device for her son. "It makes you want to cry, for goodness sake. That's the best outcome that could actually happen right now: to have a mom next to you right now who says, 'God is good,' right? It doesn't get better than that," he remarked.
According to the SJSO, Benjamin Adcock was located by a citizen who recognized him from his photograph shared on social media. "This is a citizen, paying attention, not afraid to call the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office and bringing a 16-year-old boy home to his mom, Olga," Sheriff Hardwick stated.
While Adcock is reported to be in good health and is receiving medical care, the SJSO is still gathering information regarding his whereabouts between September 12 and September 14. His last confirmed sighting was at noon on Saturday, crossing SR 207 southbound, with search efforts concentrated near the Epic Theater plaza.
Benjamin Adcock is described as 5'11" and weighing 160 pounds. He was last seen wearing black cotton shorts and a gray T-shirt.
The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office is requesting anyone with information about Adcock's movements during the period he was missing to come forward.