MSP searching for missing 16-year-old in Lapeer County
LAPEER COUNTY, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) - Michigan State Police have issued a missing endangered person advisory for 16-year-old Nathan John Baughman from Dryden Township.
According to MSP, Nathan, who has autism, was last seen at his residence on Joy Road near Dryden Road in Lapeer County around 9 p.m. Sunday, April 2.
"I got a call at 6:53 in the morning from my daughter saying that they couldn't find him he wasn't in the house," said Nathan's mother, Rachel Scharf.
Scharf sat down with CBS News Detroit Tuesday and looked back at the call she received the morning of April 3, when her son left her father and stepmother's home, shocking all of his parents and loved ones.
"He told us how much he loved us before he went to bed. We don't know what to do," said Nathan's stepmother Jenny Baughman. Jenny Baughman and his father Matthew also took the time to share more about their son.
The Oakland County Sheriff's Office says Baughman left a note in his bed saying that he was running away and discouraged anyone from trying to find him.
The sheriff's office says he has no history of running away and there was no indication he intended to harm himself.
With an outpouring of shares and support on social media, Baughman's loved ones are just hoping wherever he's safe. With an official investigation between Dryden Township police, MSP and the sheriff's office, Dryden Township Police Sgt. Adam Chesnutt says every case is different, especially Baughman's.
Chesnutt says knowing his disabilities will help police better execute their searches.
"I've been told he's not really a social person, so we've kind of instructed all of our officers to kind of approach the situation very calmly and explain to him right away that he's not in trouble and just kind of give him distance and time to warm up to us when we start talking with him," he said.
Nathan is believed to be traveling on a black Schwinn bicycle with green lettering. His direction of travel and destination is not known. He is believed to be wearing an olive green hooded sweatshirt with dark sweatpants and black Under Armour brand running shoes.
He is described as being 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 130 pounds. He has brown hair and blue eyes.
Chessnutt says anyone who sees Nathan can call 911 or your local police department.