ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. — A 16-year-old boy who was reported missing Tuesday afternoon was found safe following an alert sent out by the St. Charles County Police Department.
Police initially asked for the public's assistance in finding Charles Hughes, who was last seen just after 5:00 p.m. Tuesday at St. Charles Christian Home Educators in O'Fallon. He's known as "Tucker" to his family and friends. He was found safely in "good health and returned to his family," police said.
"He didn't come home after school yesterday and we don't know why," said Janice Hughes, Tucker's mom.
Ring camera footage showed he had gone home at about 1:20 p.m. to collect schoolwork before returning for class.
Then, Tucker returned to the learning center for home-schooled students, where he takes limited classes every Tuesday.
Security camera video from the learning center captured Tucker walking out of the building at 5:01 p.m., getting in his maroon 2021 GMC Acadia and then pulling out of the parking lot at 5:05 p.m. A teacher reported that he was alone when he left.
"He always would text and tell me when he arrived somewhere and when he was headed home. So this is really out of the ordinary," Janice said.
Hughes' mother got worried after not hearing from her son and not getting any response from his cell phone. She contacted his On-Star, who tracked his car close to a Mobil gas station in the 1500 block of North 13th Street, near downtown St. Louis.
She contacted the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, and at about 10 p.m., officers found the SUV unoccupied and undamaged.
Cpl. Barry Bayles, public information officer for the St. Charles County Police Department, continued to stress that this is out of the ordinary behavior.
"His mom said he's never done anything like this before. He's a very responsible, stable, straight-laced young man, as she put it. He's good in school, plays sports with his friends, and gets good grades."
Alyssa Ward, one of Tucker's teachers, said he's an outstanding kid.
"He is the sweetest, kindest person you'll ever meet. I have never met a person Tucker is not willing to jump in and help," she said.
"We love you, Tucker. You're a part of our family. We miss you, and we want you to be home," Janice said.
Police said Hughes had no history of running away and no known usage of illegal substances.
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