A 30-year-old man with severe autism was found safe on Tuesday, thanks to a Good Samaritan who found him wandering near Whittier and took him to a shelter.
Police and family members had asked for help finding Miguel Castillo, Jr., who went missing on Monday at a Metro station in downtown Los Angeles.
Throughout his life, Castillo -- who cannot speak -- had always been cared for by family members. Then on Monday, during his first outing with a Culver City special needs organization, he disappeared.
The group was on a field trip that stopped at the Seventh Street/Metro Center transit station when caregivers lost track of Castillo.
“I can’t stress how terrified we are,” Castillo’s sister, Myrna Almodovar, said at a news conference.
Family members said Castillo’s autism prevents him from speaking, and that he has the mental capacity of a young child.
Family members said he met a stranger on Monday who realized that he had special needs, fed him, took care of him and escorted him to a shelter.
Correction: An earlier version of this story erroneously reported that the man was found in Downey. Castillo was found safe in Whittier.
