Benjamin Vasquez, who has autism, reunited with family after going missing on Aug. 25

A young man with autism has been reunited with his family after two strangers came to his rescue. Benjamin Vasquez went missing on Aug. 25. After his mother learned that her son ran out the door, she

News 12 Staff

Sep 7, 2014, 5:35 AM

Updated 3,525 days ago

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Benjamin Vasquez, who has autism, reunited with family after going missing on Aug. 25
A young man with autism has been reunited with his family after two strangers came to his rescue.
Benjamin Vasquez went missing on Aug. 25. After his mother learned that her son ran out the door, she couldn't help but think about what happened to Avonte Oquendo, the teenage boy with autism who was found dead after he inexplicably ran out of his school in Queens.
Althea Brown says she saw a News 12 report about the missing young man. When she noticed someone who appeared to be Vasquez sitting near a garbage can on the street corner, she says she knew what to do.
Brown says she called Vasquez over to her van and told her friend Miriam Mercado to call the police.
Vasquez's mom has already taken more preventative measures, such as installing new locks on the doors and getting a tracking wristband for her son, to make sure this never happens again.


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