RESEDA, LOS ANGELES () — The family of a missing teen with autism is begging for help after he walked out of his school in Reseda.
Junior Saavedra, 18, was last seen at Diane S. Leichman Career Preparatory and Transition Center on Friday.
The Los Angeles Police Department has now declared the boy a critical missing person.
His mother is frustrated with how the school handled the situation. Now, she is demanding an explanation.
Maria Saavedra says the school called her and asked if her son had come home, informing her that he left the school.
She said she then went to the school, where they told her he went missing at 11:20 a.m. Saavedra says they didn’t call her until 12:59 p.m., and police didn’t arrive until 1:20 p.m.
“All I want is for him to show up. Please help me. If you’ve seen him, call me, let me know, because I’m so worried about him,” Saavedra said in Spanish. “I don’t even know what to think or what to do anymore to get help.
Saavedra told Eyewitness News that she thought Junior would be safe at the school because it’s specifically for children with autism and disabilities. She said while Junior is technically an adult at 18 years old, he has the mind of a 4-year-old.
He was last seen wearing light gray sweatpants, a blue long-sleeve shirt with a white T-shirt on top, and a black Dodgers hat.
Anyone who may have seen Junior or has any information on his whereabouts is urged to contact the police.
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