Missing Hoover School Student Found Safe At Home

(Editor's note: This article was updated on Tuesday at 10:20 p.m. with additional comments from Melrose Police Chief Mike Lyle.)

A nine-year-old Hoover School student who ran away from his mother on Tuesday afternoon at the close of school was found later that day at his family's home, Melrose Police Chief Mike Lyle announced in a press release issued after 9 p.m. on Tuesday night.

Melrose Police received a call from Hoover School officials at approximately 3:58 p.m., Lyle said, reporting that the student left school at 2:30 p.m. and had run away. Parents and school officials searched for the missing boy in the wooded area adjacent to the school unsuccessfully. After approximately one hour, school officials notified police.

Melrose Police arrived at the school and began a search of the immediate area, Lyle said. "A short time later," additional personnel responded to the family home where the boy was located. The boy appeared to be unharmed and was reunited with his mother.

Lyle said the boy was located at his home, which is about a half-mile from the school, "probably within 30-40 minutes" of police responding to the initial call and no later than 5:30 p.m.

"I think he had a problem with school, that wasn't really clear," he said. "I think he had a disagreement with his mom and he took off from her."

In addition to Melrose Police conducting the search, Lyle said Melrose sought assistance from a State Police helicopter and NEMLEC (North Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council), a regional consortium of local police departments, including Melrose, and sheriff's offices.

"We had a number of resources coming in," he said. "The boy was located, fortunately, before they arrived."