Police Say Missing FSU Student From South Florida Has Been Found Alive
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TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami) – Police have found a missing FSU student alive, five days after he went missing in Tallahassee.
Justin Dean Fields,19, a graduate of Miami Coral Reef High, was last seen in Tallahassee last Wednesday.
His family members and friends mounted a frantic online effort for help in finding him.
The Leon County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) posted a video on their Facebook page announcing the boy had been found.
When told was located alive, a large group of family members gathered in the Leon County Sheriff's Office shouted with elation and cried tears of joy.
A second video was posted showing Ann Farrar, Justin's mother, thanking authorities and anyone else who helped to find the teen.
Thank you so much to the Leon County Sheriff's Office, volunteers, fire department, FSU…I don't know if I'm leaving anybody out but we found Justin and we are so grateful," Farrar said.
The Leon County Sheriff's Office found Field's Nissan in a field near a wooded area about 25 miles North of Tallahassee
Since then, Leon Deputies, Wildlife officers and FSU police had searched the wooded area near where Shield's car was found, his wallet and keys still in it.
Sunday afternoon, Shields was found by a police dog who had captured his scent.
LCSO Deputy Dave Teems said Shields was "dehydrated and scratched up from the thistle he had been through" during more than two days in the thicket.
"We're taking him to the hospital to get checked out, and then go home with his family," Teems said.
The circumstances surrounding Teem's decision to go missing, and not respond to calls from family and friends are not known.
"We're very happy," said Teems. "Anytime we can help a family like this, and have a happy resolution, we are very excited."