The 14-year-old boy who disappeared after being dropped off at school has been found safe.
Liam Stark made headlines when he was dropped off at William Floyd High School in Long Island, New York, on October 17, but never entered the building. Instead, surveillance footage showed him leaving the school grounds and walking to a nearby Dunkin’ Donuts before vanishing. His family reported him missing later that afternoon.
His mother, Christy Stark, shared that surveillance footage showed Liam pausing and wiping away tears, suggesting he was struggling emotionally. She speculated that Liam, dealing with personal challenges, may have been trying to handle things on his own rather than asking for help.
Christy only realized Liam was missing when one of his brothers mentioned he hadn’t gotten on the bus home. At that point, she called the police, fearing the worst.
After being missing for the entire weekend, Liam called his mother on Monday night from the Bronx. She was initially overwhelmed with the volume of calls regarding his disappearance and didn’t hear the message right away. When she finally got the call, she and Liam’s brother rushed to the Bronx to find him.
While en route, Liam called again, and Christy stayed on the phone with him until they arrived. Once they got there, a man who had heard about Liam’s disappearance spotted him and helped guide him back to his family. The man, a father himself, reassured Liam that his family would always be there for him.
Liam had spent the days away sleeping on park benches and calling his mom from a public library. When asked by hospital staff what made him come home, he simply said, “Because I missed my mom.”
Christy expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love and support that helped bring Liam back safely. She urged people to check in on those struggling, saying this happy ending was a result of the kindness shown by so many.