Update: Missing 12-Year-Old Barnegat Boy Found In Manahawkin
Jaleni Lewis-Castagna was reported missing around 7:15 p.m.
The search for a 12-year-old male, who was last in contact with his family at approximately 5 p.m. this evening, ended at approximately 9:30 p.m. when Jaleni Lewis-Castagna was found in the Manahawkin section of Stafford Township.
Barnegat Police Lt. Keith Germain told Patch that the boy was located at the TGI Friday's.
Germain said he had several people in the community that reported seeing the boy in the area of the Regal Cinema and Barnegat police located him in the restaurant a short time later. He said the boy was attempting to run away from his Nautillus Drive home, but he has been returned safely to his mother.
"We greatly appreciate the community support. We had over 300 shares off of our Facebook page and other local media outlets, which of course helps get that message out a lot faster," Germain said.
Germain said the Ocean County Sheriff's k-9 unit, along with local volunteer fire and state police responded. An aerial search had also begun.
"When we have a situation like this, we use all the resources we have available, because it is important to find them sooner rather than later," Germain said.
Amy Elliott
9:55 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
May he be returned home safe and sound! Praying for him and his family!
Deborah Litter
9:56 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
what part of the township was he last seen? no article says anything
Holly
9:57 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Where was he last seen?
Holly
9:58 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
How can we help without details?
Rob Russo
9:59 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Any updated info? Last seen where?
Rob Russo
10:01 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Hes been found safe
Scott Neuman
10:05 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Hope so...
Charles J. Giles
10:09 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
It is now 9:50 pm. I just received a NIXLE message from Barnegat PD. Jaleni has been found safe. Great job by all agencies that assisted with the search.
tony c
8:31 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
Great job guys
momere
8:31 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
So glad he was found safe! Hope they resolve whatever caused him to feel he needed to runaway.
jenny
11:29 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
Glad the boy is safe. I hope someone looks into it further. There may be a valid reason why he was trying to get away from home.
joanwarrin
1:16 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
i agree, someone should investigate why the boy felt he had to run away from home. let's close the circle and understand what was so bad that he felt he had to run away.
marlyn
6:23 am on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
yes this family needs to go to counseling & try to resolve the issues that made him run away- taking his Playstation away for a week is not the answer- be a family & seek help
Judi
12:24 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
Thank God he was found safe and hoping that he is getting some counseling as to why he ran away.
Corsair
8:39 am on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
...and sometimes its best if we just mind our own buisness. I ran away once when I was about 12. I was upset that my parents had an arguement. They re-assured me that it was only an arguement and that it didnt mean they didnt love each other. That was the only time I ever ran away.
Also, I returned home after several hours...I got hungry. : )
momere
10:01 am on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Evernotice - Good point! and glad it worked out for you. And getting hungry will definitely make you go home :)
Laurie
12:49 pm on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
And sometimes, Evernotice, minding your business is NOT the answer. That's part of the problem in today's society...nobody listens to the children. Perhaps if they did, there would be less tragedies occurring on a daily basis. All Jenny was saying is that they need to look into it further, no harm in that, and I agree.