Michael Karwan was reunited with his parents overnight after a weeklong, multi-state search for the 19-year-old, authorities said Wednesday
Karwan, who has autism, traveled by bus from Monmouth County to Manhattan and from New York to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh before arriving in Cleveland, Ohio, where he was found Tuesday evening, according to a release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.
Karwan tried to check-in to an overcrowded men's shelter run by Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries but was referred to the Volunteers of America shelter, the release says.
After Karwan had checked into the second shelter, an employee from the first shelter recognized the Marlboro teen in a Facebook post detailing the search, the release says.
The employee called Marlboro police, who then the contacted the Cleveland Police Department. Officers arrived at the shelter where they confirmed Karwan was listed as a missing person, according to the release.
"With Michael Karwan safely reunited with his parents, we all have a little more to give thanks for this Thanksgiving holiday. I personally want to thank everyone who played a role in the search for Michael and his safe return, especially the news media that helped get the word out about Michael," Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Gramiccioni said in the release
The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Marlboro Police Department, and the FBI’s Red Bank Office were assisted by the Cleveland and New York City Police Departments, Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, NJ Transit, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), FBI divisions in Cleveland, Newark, and New York City, and a host of volunteer organizations, according to the release.
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