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PROVO — A runaway teen who went missing Sunday night was found safe early Monday morning.
Johnathan Johnson, 15, was found after an attendant at Clean Days Laundry realized the boy he had seen sitting across the room was the same teenager being reported missing on TV, and called 911.
"I thought it was weird he was in the laundromat at 3:30, 4 o'clock in the morning, with no coat and shoes," said the man, who asked to remain anonymous.
Johnathan, who has Asperger's syndrome, reportedly became upset and left his home about 6:30 p.m. Sunday, barefoot and without a coat, while his parents were at church. The boy had walked about 6 miles to the laundromat, 65 W. Center.
Brian and Saely Johnson, Johnathan's parents, said their son has never run away before, but he would hide from his parents in the house when he became upset.
"He would hide in a closet or something, but he never left the house," his mother said.
"It was a shock to us," Brian Johnson added.
Tricia Nelson, founder of the Utah Autism Academy and mother to a 12-year-old son with autism, said children and even adults with varying levels of autism will leave home and not realize they are in danger. She hurried to Provo to help when she learned of the search for Jonathan.
"In many situations, they don't even realize that they're missing," Nelson said. "My son has gone missing before, and it's a horrifying feeling. And with that sense of urgency, I couldn't get down here quick enough."
Nelson emphasized that every child with autism has different needs.
Contributing: Peter Samore and Becky Bruce
