Fort Worth teen with autism has been missing for 5 days in Mississippi, family says
A 14-year-old Fort Worth boy with autism has been reported missing in Mississippi, and authorities in two states have been searching for him since Friday, his parents say.
Surveillance video indicates Nathan Covarrubias walked outside the gates of Summit’s View Therapeutic School for Boys about 10 a.m. Friday, and has not been seen since, his mother, Carrie Covarrubias said during a telephone interview.
The school is surrounded by thick woods and is within walking distance of the Tennessee border, Nathan’s father, Edgar Covarrubias said.
“There is video of my son walking slowly out of the campus,” the mother said. “He sits down for a little while, stands in the shade for a little while and them walks off in the direction of the Mississippi-Tennessee line.”
Nathan was last seen wearing a long-sleeved blue shirt and khaki pants. He suffers from bipolar and disruptive mood disorders, but is intelligent and strong willed with good survival skills, according to his parents. Nathan is without his medication, the mother said.
Nathan’s parents said they are reaching out to everyone they can to help in the effort to find him.
“I can’t say how much I miss my son and I cannot wait to see him again so that I can give him a big hug,” Carrie Covarrubias said.
Nathan fancies himself as a naturalist and could have sought shelter in one of many abandoned properties in the area or perhaps he is receiving aid from someone who, for whatever reason, has decided not to come forward.
“He can tolerate stuff that would bother a lot of other people,” Carrie Covarrubias said. “He has a high threshold for discomfort, Things like mosquito bites and tall grass would not faze him. “
Family and friends from the Fort Worth area are helping with the search, the mother said. The mother says they were unaware that other boys have left the school before and have returned safely, but Nathan is not typical and is more likely to be hiding.
“We can’t rule out the possibility that Nathan could be anywhere in the country and we need nationwide coverage about this right now,” Carrie Covarrubias said.
The parents said they sent him to the school because Nathan needed professional help with his disorders. Nathan may have been planning an escape for some time and has a big head start, his parents said.
“The more hearts that we can gather with the right sentiment, the better we will feel about getting Nathan back safe and sound,” Carrie Covarrubias said. “We know that the Lord is using this terrible time we are going through right now to advance the kingdom.”
This story was originally published June 3, 2020 at 2:30 PM.
