Jayden Thomas, Braxton Wood runaway Michigan teens found living in an SUV in Chicago
The missing Michigan teens who left town together nearly two weeks ago have been found safe in Chicago this morning, authorities said.
Jayden Thomas, age 13, of Clare, and Braxton Wood, age 14, of Mount Pleasant, were first reported missing since August 26.
Braxton reportedly took his mother’s black 2005 Ford Explorer during the early morning hours and picked up Jayden before leaving town.
They were due to start their freshman year at different high schools last week, and their parents said the two even briefly broke up because of that.
According to ABC’s Good Morning America, the teens had been dating for about six months and were due to start their freshman year at different high schools last week. Their parents reportedly would not let them be together and they briefly broke up because of that.
Local law enforcement found the couple this morning in the back of the Ford Explorer in a parking lot adjacent to a Mobil gas station in Wrigleyville, a neighborhood in Chicago, Sgt. Tim Edeling of the Chicago Police Department 19th District told ABCNews.com.
Edeling said it is believed the teens drove directly from Michigan to the Chicago area – a 4 1/2 hour drive. They had been living in the SUV, “going to the local Starbucks and enjoying our lakefront,” he said.
The SUV’s battery was dead and the couple had run out of gas.