Missing Brookline Man Found Safe

UPDATE 5 p.m. Thursday: The young man has been found and is safe, according to his mother.

BROOKLINE, MA — After her son ran away a week ago, a local mom concerned about his well being is asking folks to spread the word that he's missing and help bring him home.

"My son ... has had a lot of struggles for a very large portion of his young life. Some might call it mental illness. He himself would tell you that the problem is not within him, it's society that is broken," she posted to Facebook.

Last week in a climax of what's been building up, she said, he packed up his stuff into her car and took off. She thought he was going to his dad's house but never arrived and hadn't been seen or heard from since.

"I'm very worried about him," said his mother.

Then, Wednesday she got word that he might be in Western Massachusetts near Holyoke and Amherst or Northampton.

The young man is described as about 5'11 and weighing 135 pounds. He's 20 years old and left in Fegela's Blue Chevy Traverse with missing driver's side mirror. She said he drinks lots of bottled water daily so he might be trying to buy cases of water. He also gravitates toward unprocessed or organic foods, especially tea, nutrition bars, or nuts.

"He's so smart, amazing, strong, and thoughtful. But it's been very hard for him to find his way and his place in this world," his mother said in the post. "Please spread the word."

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).