Jason Kandel

Missing Teen Cross Country Runner Found Safe

A family reunited Thursday with their 14-year-old son who went missing Wednesday in Walnut.

At a Burger King in Whittier, 13 miles away from where he disappeared, Kayne Doughty Jr.'s mother embraced him.

"You don't know how loved you are," Latina Doughty said. "You don't know how many people are so scared for you, honey."

His father thanked the good Samaritans who helped the boy by letting him use their cellphone to call his parents to let them know he was safe.

"He said he had a rough time and he hadn't slept in two days and he hasn't really eaten, except a lady who had given him a few bucks at McDonlads," said Paul Santillana, who helped the boy. "He broke down and said he been a runaway."

Added Santillana's wife, Lisa: "He was very scared. He was visibly breaking down and shaken."

"I'm good now," Doughty said.

It's unclear how or why he left home.

Doughty was reported missing after telling his parents that he had a track team meeting at Walnut High School at 400 N. Pierre Road. He wasn't there when his parents went to pick him up.

The freshman cross-country athlete's lunch container was found Thursday morning in a creek along some running trails. His cellphone battery was reportedly dead.

The teen's parents said it's not like him to run away or remain out of contact.

A sheriff's helicopter and search dogs were deployed in an effort to locate the boy, said Lt. John Saleeby, watch commander at the sheriff's Walnut Station.

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