Fort Worth teen with autism found 8 miles from where he went missing in late May
Authorities in two states who had searched since May 29 for Nathan Covarrubias, a teen with autism from Fort Worth, found him in Tennessee on Sunday.
Nathan was taken to a Memphis hospital for evaluation after he was located by authorities, eight miles away and nine days after he walked away from the Walnut, Mississippi, school where he was receiving counseling and training, according to published reports.
Surveillance video indicates Nathan left Summit’s View Therapeutic School for Boys about 10 a.m. and had not been seen until he was located Sunday, according to his mother, Carrie Covarrubias.
The school is surrounded by thick woods and is within walking distance of the Tennessee state line, Nathan’s father, Edgar Covarrubias said. Nathan became the focus of a nationwide search shortly following his disappearance.
Nathan has bipolar and disruptive mood disorders, but is intelligent and strong willed with good survival skills, according to his parents. Nathan did not have his medication while he was missing, his mother said.
Nathan needed professional help with his disorders. He may have been planning an escape for some time and had a big head start, his parents said.
“Nathan Covarrubias has been found ALIVE in Tennessee, thanks to the hard work of law enforcement, the community and social media,” the FBI said in a statement released on its Twitter page. “Everyone is thankful that he is alive and will be reunited with his family.”
This story was originally published June 8, 2020 at 10:31 AM.
