LORAIN, Ohio — After Lorain Police issued an endangered missing child advisory Wednesday, 12-year-old Austin Lauer was located Thursday night and returned home safely to his mother, Sandusky Police said.
Note: The video on this story is from a report done before Austin was located Thursday night.
Before that, July 17 was the last day Austin's family members had laid their eyes on him.
In an interview with News 5 before Austin was found, his mother Sandra Lauer and sister Victoria Lauer said the had last been seen in Lorain near 17th and Washington Avenue at a friend’s house when he vanished last Sunday.
“He’s out there and he’s off of his medicine,” said Sandra Lauer said earlier this week. “This is the longest he's been gone this is the longest he's been off his medicine."
She said Austin is diagnosed with several mental disabilities, including autism, oppositional defiance disorder and ADHD.
Lorain Police issued an endangered missing child advisory Wednesday, 10 days after Austin disappeared.
RELATED: Endangered Missing Child Alert issued for missing 12-year-old boy from Lorain
“They knew from the beginning and there’s no reason it should’ve taken that long, it’s no reason why it took so long for them to look into it,” Lauer said.
News 5 reached out to Lorain police for comment but have yet to hear back.
Lauer said her son also disappeared overnight early last year. Police found him at a former neighbor's home in Sandusky. She said Sandusky investigators checked that same home again and did not find him.
Sandusky Police did confirm to us that they were helping Lorain Police search for him and would continue to help as needed.
This disappearance was far more agonizing for this mother; she prayed Austin returned home soon and safe. Thankfully, her prayers were answered Thursday night when Austin was located and returned home to his mother safely, Sandusky Police told News 5 Friday morning.
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