Just One Drink
A podcast where ‘just one drink’ turns into wildly honest, beautifully chaotic conversations, from relationships and the paranormal to current events and the things people think but never say say out loud.
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Just One Drink
When Elijah Disappeared: Autism, Community, and the Search That Went Viral
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When my cousin Elijah, who is autistic, ran away after days of building frustration, my family launched a frantic two‑day search across the city. In this episode, my family and I break down what pushed him to the point of wanting to be homeless, how he unexpectedly went viral on social media and hit the news, angels we encountered along the way, and the moment our family finally found him. It’s a raw, emotional story about fear, family, and the power of community.
Hey guys, it's your host, Alex G, and this is another episode of Just One Drain. Today is going to be a different kind of episode. We recently went through something where my little cousin Elijah ran away from home, and my family and I went on bounty hunter mode and we searched for him for two days, and the experience that came with it was very eye-opening, I feel like, for a lot of us. So, with me to tell this story is my very own family. Everyone say hi. But to kind of start off the story, I will start off kind of on my own version, and then I'm going to pass it to my thea Esther. I had come home from work picking up food. My dad wasn't home, and I thought that was weird because he's retired, and so I tracked him on my phone, like the creep I am. He was literally like driving down streets. And immediately I was confused and right, as I was like thinking that Brianna called me, and she was in panic mode, like Elijah ran away. And I was like, What? Like, I didn't believe it. I was kind of in shock. So I called my dad and he did confirm that Elijah had gone missing. So we ran, we rounded up all like 200 of us in our family, and we all headed to my the's house, but I didn't find out until later that there was kind of a story behind what happened before that that led up to that moment.
SPEAKER_05Um, rebelling after he graduated when August came, he was ready to go to school. And I told him, you know, there's no more school, you graduated already, and he didn't understand why. And he kept looking at me with confusion.
SPEAKER_03And just to preempt this, um, Elijah had this autism.
SPEAKER_05Um from that day when I told him there's no more school, um, he kind of started to rebel little by little. I started noticing him um getting real frustrated right and everything. He started breaking stuff. Um, but Sunday is when it I he broke his speaker, we had a conversation. I told him, I'm not mad at you, it's yours. Um so, but you can't break stuff when you're frustrated, you have to ask for help. And I thought he took it well. Um so I left it alone to come Monday. He had therapy, and um, I couldn't find him. And I told Ben, I told him, Go look in the closet because when he's upset, he hides in the closet. So he was sitting in the closet. So I asked him again, I go, what's wrong with you? And he's like, Leave me alone. And I go, you have to talk to me. Why are you mad? What happened? And he pushed me. So I I grabbed him by his arm and I said, You cannot do that to mom. You do not push mom. And before I know it, he's he backhanded me across the face. Had he ever done like a never been aggressive like that. I mean, he's been he's a flight risk, you know that, but big brother Lexus is always here to stop him. Um, but never ever hit anybody. Um so I kind of I had to step out and then calmed him, kind of calmed him down. I called Alexis, I told him you need to come calm a leg down. He just hit me. Um, so Lexus came talked to him. And then Tuesday came. I thought Tuesday was fine. We had no issues with him Tuesday. I just kind of stayed away because I thought if he hit me, he's frustrated. I mean, I know by me telling them he there's no more school, in his mind it's me stopping him from going to school. Um, so I kind of stayed away. Um, we had no issues Tuesday, and then Wednesday came and my mom called me and said, I just heard glass shatter in the room. So right away, me and Ben, or Ben stopped me. He's like, no, don't go, because I'll go. So he's what happened? And he's like, I broke the window. How did you while he? What happened? Did you try to open it? Because I want to run away. And so he came out and I was talking, I go, Elijah, I know something's wrong with you. What's wrong? I go, why are you so mad? Why are you so frustrated? You have to talk to me so I could help you. And he's all he kept saying, I'm gonna be homeless. And I go, why? And I go, there's nothing out there for you. I said, if you go, and I pointed to the door, um, you're gonna get lost. And he got up and ran. And right away I ran out with my keys. Ben ran out, got in his truck, I got in my car. Right away, I called 911. And I go, my son ran away, he's autistic. Um, I'm in the car right now, my husband in the truck, and he's he went down Indian school, but I'm not sure which way because he ran fast. And I went towards Indian school in 83rd, I didn't see him, like went across 79th, went down Indian school towards 75th, and then I saw him running um towards Jack in a box. So I went ahead, I went into the Arco, and there were so many people getting gas. By the time I made it back around, I didn't see where he went. So I was I told the cops I go, he's on 75th Avenue Indian School. They said, but I don't know which way he went. So uh she told me the cops are at the house, um, you need to go home. So, because they're waiting for you. So I came home and um gave him pictures, gave him, you know, the whole story. And they said we have a few guys out there. In my mind, I thought, okay, he couldn't have gone far. They're they're out there right now, they're gonna, he's right there in that area. Um, but no, they they didn't find him that day. Um then I called my sister. Um she didn't answer, so I sent her a text and I called my brother, then I called or called um Elijah's brother, um, and then went from there.
SPEAKER_03Our family has been through a lot. A lot of death, a lot of tragedies. But the one thing that I'm always like proud of is we always come together in very hard times. We got in the car and we started looking around the area.
SPEAKER_04We went out, we went to the mall thinking he went to the mall, and we actually talked to the police officers. We got down at Circle K's and talked to them, we talked to the security guards in the mall.
SPEAKER_02And when Thea had said he wanted to be homeless, my first initial thought was he takes that literally. So whether he looks whether he looks it up on the internet, homeless people, or he sees it, he's going to act it out. And my first thought was like, if he's acting it out, he's lame somewhere. So like you just have to look high and low for him.
SPEAKER_04We actually had a lot of people reach out that had like autistic um children or like someone that they knew with autistic, but there's one person in particular that reached out. I'm so worried about him, like blah blah blah. And I was just like, okay, like did he know him? Like, my I mean, my nephew didn't have any friends really that I know of. He wouldn't, I mean, he never talks about anybody besides like uh yeah, some girls or anime or characters in movies. Um, but yeah, and I was just like, okay, but then he was going on and on, and then he finally said that he was autistic himself, and that he was worried, and he was like, How can I help? How can I help you guys? And that's what he was he was just asking about, and I was just like, and it stuck with me because I was like, Oh my god, and he was like, Yeah, he's like, I I heard it from the news from uh Miss Gary or something like that, and I was just like, Okay, yeah, he has to he because like there's some ways that the way that he was texting, I was like, Okay, and then he was just like, I just I'm just so for worried, and then he was like, Oh my heart. And I was just like, Oh my heart, my heart broken, or something like that. And I was just like, Oh, but I was just like, Wow, like it reached like a lot of people, and a lot of and it touched a lot of people because we did, like she said, like a lot of people reached out that I didn't know, and they were just like, Yeah, we were looking for him. We even had like small communities out there, Levine, looking for him.
SPEAKER_03By this time, I will tell you, we made flyers, they were handed out everywhere. He was on the Spanish news, he was on the regular news. I mean, so we were literally just everywhere. You could see like this his pictures of him in the grad, um, in the grad outfit, and then also with his headphones on. So, yeah, she messaged me this random person who worked at um Mills, Arizona Mills, worked at the movie theater and said, Oh my god, I'm so sorry. I didn't know he was missing. But your cousin came in earlier this day around 2 or 3 p.m. Mind you, we live on the all the way on the west side of town. So to hear this, I was like, holy hell, he made it all the way out with no money, nothing. Because when that's another important part, but when he left, he left with nothing but his headphones and the t-shirt on his back. Not even water, no money, nothing. So yeah, she was like, he came in around two or three, just walking around the theater, and you know, we were just kind of observing him. And then I went up to him and I said, you know, excuse me, sir, do you have a ticket? And he said, No. She said, Unfortunately, we can't be in the movie theater without purchasing a ticket. And she kind of sent him on his way, and he like he went on his way like peacefully. She said, I I kid you not, like an hour later, I seen him on social media, and I was like, Oh my god, I felt so bad. She's like, I did not know he was missing, I would have called.
SPEAKER_04And and I did spend a lot of my morning the next day calling hospitals and urgent cares, emergencies, and so she called the what is it, the bus station?
SPEAKER_02Oh, the transportation. We're helpful and grateful that we did that.
SPEAKER_03So it was kind of crazy because I don't remember if it was the first night Bree, but we went, I think it was at the first night. We um we all gathered at Brianna's house the first night and we came up with a game plan. We literally drew out the streets and we split into teams, like who was gonna go and do what for the rest of the night until two or three in the morning. But I remember before our group left, I don't remember who else was there. But I remember saying a prayer like, please dear God, if we don't find him tonight, if we're not meant to find him, please have people watch over him or take care of him when we're not with him. But yeah, we didn't we didn't find him that night. A lot of us quit around like 30. 3 in the morning. 2:30. So like fast forward to the next day, we all ended up meeting up at Thea's house again for like the first and the second shifters to around like five o'clock. Yeah, it was like five o'clock when everybody was like getting off of work. All of us were gathered here and we're like we were correcting some of the flyers. And I walked in the room and I remember this specifically. Like, you can see on everybody's face that we were tired, we were stressed, we were worried, we were sad, you know, there's just like so much distress. The bags under the eyes were crazy. Um, but I remember looking at Isaac and he was so like calm and cheery. And I was just kind of like, what is going on? Like he was just like, he was just like okay, he was so at peace, you know. I just remember that.
SPEAKER_07And here comes Isaac coming around with a smirk on his face, and I'm like, what's that he's up? We're gonna find him. I was like, Oh, yeah, we're gonna find him. He's like, Yeah, watch before 10 o'clock, we'll find him. And I was like, Alright, he goes, and I'm gonna be the one that finds him. I was like, all right, cuz I said, go ahead. I said, you find him then.
SPEAKER_00And um and so we get in the car, and so it's me, my girlfriend, and our friend Kimberly, and we're like, what are we gonna do? Like between us three, we're trying to get our own game plan. Um, and I was like, let's hit neighborhoods. We're gonna hit neighborhoods for a little bit. I told them, and then I was gonna come back and actually ride a bike with um my sister, her husband, and my niece up the canal. And I was like, well, let's hit these neighborhoods, and we come out of one of the first neighborhoods we hit, and then we go into the safe way because um we hadn't dropped waivers off at that safe way, and um, so I was like, let's just go. So we went, and I'm not giving them to the like workers or like just sticking up on the wall, I'm handing them to different people, and it was weird because down this aisle that I went, there was four people. There was an old old gentleman, um, a Hispanic actual, like a Hispanic family. There was a mom and two daughters, and then this two uh younger people, there were a couple, and so I just passed everybody. They were at the end, like all the way at the end. I passed everybody, and I just went straight up to that couple, and I was like, you know, hey, my cousin's missing. He's autistic. If you guys see him, call one of these numbers, and then they were like, Oh my god, I'm so sorry. Um, you know, we'll definitely be on the lookout for him. He's like, and we'll we'll say a prayer for your family. And I was like, Thank you so much, I we truly appreciate that. And I'm not one to be like, uh yeah, yeah, you can you pray for me, like, oh God, you know, I believe in God, yes, I I have a strong faith in God, um, but I'm never gonna sit there and be like, yes, pray for me, do it right now. So I'm walking away, and he was uh the gentleman was like, actually, hey, hold on. I was like, Yeah, what's up? He goes, Can we just pray for you right now? And I was like, Yeah, like instantly. Like I didn't hesitate, which is weird, because normally in that situation, I'd be like, Oh, I like why do you want to pray for me? But I was just like, Yeah, definitely, like, please. So, you know, I go and he puts his his arm around me, I put my arm around him, and his his girlfriend grabs his arm and I bow my head and he's praying, and I I do one of those little like peek through my eyes to see if he's almost done. Um, and I look at this guy's face and he's just he's in it, he's he's praying really, really hard. Eyes closed real tight. Um, he opened his eyes once to like look at the flyer to get Elijah's name. Um, I don't remember the exact prayer he said uh because it was just I was wrapped up in just like thinking of finding Elijah and like saying my own prayer while he was praying for me. Um, but it was something along the lines of like, Dear Lord, please allow uh Isaac and his family to find our brother Elijah. Uh, we put it in your hands, like along those lines, you know, like please, you know, we'll give you the glory if we find him and everything, which, you know, as we should, you know, thank God that we found him. And um, but yeah, it was just weird. Um it was something that I didn't think would happen. These people just pray for me that way. And they didn't look, I mean, there's not that there's people that look like they're religious, but I mean, they tatted up, you know, people uh both of them like just wearing really young, like you don't find young people that are still really religious, and so it was just something that aligned to like bring me there in that moment. And I was telling Erica after we found him, like all these small things after that had happened had to happen for it to be at that moment where Elijah was.
SPEAKER_03Like when you tell the story, I'm like, damn, I'm really convinced that these people were like angels of some kind, right?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, no definitely.
SPEAKER_03Or angel sent to Isaac for whatever reason.
SPEAKER_00It was God, like for me to pass all those people, give them that flyer, and then just be like God telling you, slow down. You're going too fast, you're gonna miss him. I felt like, you know? Um, yeah, we we we leave Safeway, and I tell actually, because Kim and Erica weren't with me when that happened, I tell them in the car, and they were like, oh my god, like that's so like amazing. Like, and I said this. Um, I was like, if we find him, I really hope I get to see those people again because I want to thank them. Like, I really, really hope. And I was like, I'm gonna go to the Safeway every day to see if they're gonna like show up or whatever. But um, we're driving uh after we leave Safeway and we're going down um is that Thomas? I want to say, right?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, it's Thomas.
SPEAKER_00Going down Thomas towards 75th, and um I turned into the plaza because I was like, let's just go in here. And I actually texted in the group chat, I was like, has anybody checked Target on 75th? And no one said anything, so I was like, that's a no driving. It's gotta be a no, yeah.
SPEAKER_01We were busy looking outside the window.
SPEAKER_00So no one said anything, and so I just was like, Yeah, let's go. So I turned into the plaza, I'm driving, and I um the back half of the plaza, like where grandpa's pizza's it, grandpa's pizza is, it's not that lit. It's like kind of dark, and there's no one there, so there was nobody at all. So I just keep driving. I was like, there's a game stop up here, or it used to be, I don't know if it's still like open or whatever, but I was like, he's gotta be a Game Stop. So I stop right at the end of it. So the first store is like this little Mexican respaldo spot, then the Thrifties, another Mexican spot, and then the Game Stop. I go into the respal spot, I give him a flyer, I let them know what's going on, I come out. Thrifties is closed, so I turn, I'm facing the building this entire time, and I'm like putting the flyer up on the building, and I go to the Mexican spot, they're open. I'm about to open the door, and I grab the door, and I hear Erica and Kim go, Isaac, Isaac, and I like look over, and I'm like, what? Like, what are you just talking about? And then like they point and I turn and it's Elijah, but I didn't realize it was Elijah. It took me like a few seconds, not even line. Like, I was like, what are you guys pointing at?
SPEAKER_06And I look and I was like, oh, oh, uh, you know, and so he sees me, and I don't think he recognized me either.
SPEAKER_00And then that's when I realized, and I was like, uh, uh, like I panicked, I didn't know what to do. I had his flyers in my hand, I had the tape in my hand, and I was like, if he sees this, he's gonna know we're looking for him and he's gonna freak out or like leave or whatever. So I put them behind my back, and I'm like, you know, like I'm getting hand up, and I'm talking to him, and I was like, I was like, Elijah, and I'm gonna do it in Elijah's voice, not to mimic him or anything, but just so you guys kind of get the like how he speaks. Um, so I was like, Elijah, and he goes, Isaac, what are you doing here? And I was like, Me? What are you doing here? And he goes, without missing a beat, without like questioning, he goes, I'm homeless. And I was like, What? What do you mean? And he goes, I'm homeless. And the change in his face, like the expression, went from like, oh, it's Isaac, kind of happy, to like, I'm homeless, sad. And so in my mind, he doesn't want to be homeless because if he said he was homeless and like he changed his expression, he's kind of like upset about it. And I was like, Oh, like, do you do you want to go home though? Like, do you and he was like, no, and he like walked right past me and I was like, hold on, I was like, Can I walk with you? And he was like, No. I was like, damn, how am I gonna get him to slow down? Because I didn't want to lose him. And I was like, Okay, well, I was about to get ice cream, so if you want some ice cream, like um I'm gonna get you ice cream, like if you want to come in, eat with me. And like he stopped and he turns really slow. He sees Erica and Kim, and he notices that they're like watching us like intently, and they notice that, so they back off, like walk to the car, so like he doesn't think something's going on. And then he looks at me, he's like, You're not gonna buy me ice cream, and he turns around and takes off. And I was like, Oh my god, so I didn't chase him, but I left my phone in the car, and this is annoying because it fell out of my pocket, really, and I just put it in the cup holder, and so I was like shaking, like trying to get, and I was like, Oh damn, I don't have my phone. And I turned to uh Kim and Erica and I was like, call somebody, like call them, whatever. And so I start following him slowly. I let him, you know, get a little further ahead, and he keeps looking back, and he sees me following him, but I'm not like fixated on him. I keep like looking at the ground or like slowing down or like looking up. And um he was just walking, kept looking back, and then I turn around to see where Kim and Erica are, and they're still standing on the sidewalk. And I'm like, call somebody. Like I yell, I'm like, you guys get home, like call somebody. And then finally they like pull out their phones, and I was like, okay, so I'm walking and I turn around again to see where they're at, and they're still on the sidewalk, and I finally I was like, I like motion for the car, like a steering wheel. And I follow him for like three more stories. I turn around, they're not in the car yet. And I was like, get in the car. I was so mad because like I understand where they're coming from, like they didn't know what to do, like it's the situation you've never been in, right? But I was yelling without trying to like alert Elijah, but I'm like, get in the car, and like they finally like, oh, and then they get in the car. So they're following me, like really slowly. I'm following Elijah, and eventually he notices like, oh, he's following me. So he speeds up and I throw my sandals off. I'm like, God, if I have to run, I'm after him, and then I'm like. I can't be holding like these flyers and stuff. So I put the flyers down. So there's a whole stack of flyers in that plaza still. I forgot them. Sorry, whoever found them. But if you have them, you can return them or you know throw them away or whatever. But that tape was five bucks. I'm not mad about it. Whatever. So I left it there and I'm I speed up and then I realize he's gonna keep going if he sees that I'm following him. So I duck behind one of the render center trucks, and I can see through the window, but he can't see me no more. So he checks like three or four times and then he slows down. And he doesn't know what Erica's car looks like. So I like tell her, like, you know, go up a little bit, and then I jump in the car, and then I just duck down behind the seat. At this point, there's three phones in our car, and there's everybody talking on the phone at once.
SPEAKER_03But then because Erica's ex-girlfriend calls me, and me and Brie were we were in neighborhoods walking around, and she's like, we found him. And I think I was in shock too. So the first thing I said was, No, you didn't.
SPEAKER_04But because I have a question, what exactly did she tell you? She literally said, we found it.
SPEAKER_07Okay, yeah. I wasn't I wasn't there for that part. Okay, the reason why I asked is because I don't know if you called me next, but you called me and I was at Oso Park, and you're like, Bonto, what are you doing? And I was like, I was gonna look for it. Why do you leave with that?
SPEAKER_06That was a category.
SPEAKER_07And you're like, you're like, this is what you told me. You go, Isaac found him, he needs all the guys.
SPEAKER_00I don't want to lose him because we're too far behind and he ducked into a neighborhood. So I tell Erica, drive all the way up to the next opening, which was like a little clinic or whatever. Yeah, remember. And I told whole sway, I said, hey, you stay behind him and follow him, and we're just gonna hopscotch until we can figure out what we're gonna do. But by the time I get to the opening, I don't know if Elijah knew that Sway was following him or I was following him, or he just wanted to cross the street, but he crossed the street, like just took off. And I was like, Oh my god, he's crossing the street. And then Banson's like, I'm right here, I see him. And so they do a U-turn at the median because he's Elijah's standing on the median, and um, they do a U-turn and they catch up to him, and Banson is like, I got him. Elijah decided to sit down on the side of the sidewalk where like normally like a power box would go, so it's like kind of cut out of the fence. Like a little nut. Yeah, and there's like dirt and stuff.
SPEAKER_07He was like, When I got so I made the U-turn and I told Sadie to stop because he was right there. So I got out the car, and I was like, damn, like there's nobody else here. And um, I mean, me and Elijah really don't have that close of a relationship, so I'm not really close to him, so I don't have many interactions with him, just high and by and stuff like that. So I don't have as much experience as Brianna, Isaac, and Celeste have with him. So when I just walked up on him, I'm like, what am I gonna say? And I was just like, Elijah, and he kind of looked at me and like because at the so when I got there, he was facing the fence, right? He was trying to hide, right? Yeah, he was like, he was like trying to hide. So like I backed up, and then when I seen him, he turned around and he sat down. So then I decided to walk up on him and I was like, Elijah, and he looked at me and he was like kind of confused, and I was like, I said, Do you know who I am, Bon Song? And he was like, uh yeah. And I was like, and I was like, and I know Isaac, Isaac does this little handshake with them, I've seen him done, where he shakes his hand and it's from Bay Max, and he goes, or something like that. So like so like I kind of imitated it, and he was like, Yeah, yeah, yeah. I made him feel a little more comfortable. And I was like, and then um I was like, Elijah, do you do you do you need some water? Are you thirsty? Because then he was like, ask me if he wants water. So I was like, Do you want water? And he was like, Water? And like I thought he got excited because he wanted water. So he goes, Yeah, yeah, water. So he didn't reach out for the water, he turns and he opens up his backpack, and I'm like, he has a backpack. I was like, I didn't even have nothing. So sure enough, he pulls out of water and he gives it to me. And I'm like, no, no, Elijah, I don't need water. And then at that point, I'm like, what am I supposed to do? So I don't know what to do, you know? So I'm just like, I'm like, I just keep an eye on him. That's when I call Isaac. I'm like, Isaac, where you at? Where you at? Like, Elijah's here. He's sitting down. Yeah, like I need you to come talk to him, because you know, I mean, I don't know what to say. I don't know what to say to him. I'll just stand right here until you get here.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so I told, I told you, I told on so and I was like, just don't like grab him, don't do anything, just talk to him, or you know, just keep him occupied. Make sure you keep an eye on him. If he does decide to get up, I was like, because I can see you. Like I was across the street.
SPEAKER_07So then Isaac's walking up, and I was like, What are you gonna do? He goes, he goes, I'm gonna pretend I'm gonna be homeless with him. Yeah, he goes, I'm gonna pretend that I want to be homeless and I'm homeless with him. Yeah, and I was like, Oh, okay, that makes sense. And that's what I did.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so like I was like, you don't want to go home. So I sat down and I was like, I'm homeless with you. And he goes, What are you doing? And I was like, I'm homeless now. Like, I can't let you be homeless by yourself. Um, and the reason why I thought of that was like where I work, if somebody that is either on drugs or that is having a mental episode, you don't tech like you're not supposed to give in to the delusion. Like if someone's like, I see a rabbit, you're not supposed to be like, I see a rabbit too. But you're supposed to level with them, like, hey, I don't see it, but I believe you, you know, or like you basically be on their side. So with him, he's not having a delusion that he's homeless, but he wants to be homeless. So I'm like, you know what? If you see me as another homeless person, you're not gonna run from me. So I sit down and I tell him, I'm gonna be homeless with you. And he was like, Okay. And so I'm asking him questions just to see, you know, how he survived the night where he slept, different things. And first thing I asked him actually, because like kind of like lighten the mood, or just to see like what his thought process was. And I was like, All right, we're homeless. What are we doing for money? And he was like, What do you mean? I was like, What do you mean? What do I mean? Like, we gotta eat, we gotta drink water. I was like, I'm thirsty. Do you have water? Because I was trying to see if he was drinking water, and he goes, Water? I was like, Yeah, he goes, say no more. And he pulled out freaking 32 ounce of water from his bag. And that's when I noticed he had a bag, and I was like, Oh, I was like, what the heck? I was like, Oh, thank you. I pretended to drink it and I gave it back to him, and I was like, I was like, Where'd you get that? And he was just like, somebody, and I was like, Oh man, that's crazy. I was like, Well, when we're homeless, let's not do that. And he goes, Why? And I was like, because that's dangerous. I was like, you they could have put anything in your water. I was like, but it's good that nothing happened to you. I'm not saying they did, but we'll figure out something else for water. Um, I was like, where'd you get the bag from? And then he was like, somebody gave it to me. I was like, oh, like they just let you have it? And he was like, Yeah, somebody gave it to me. I was like, okay. And then I was like, Did you go to did you go to Tempe? And he was like, Yeah. I w uh he was like, um, Tempe, he said Tempe uh Arizona Mills. And I was like, really? I was like, how did you get there? And he was like, and he mimicked the bus voice. So he was like West McDowell Road. And I was like, oh, you took the bus. And he was like, Yeah, the bus. And I was like, Wait, where'd you get the money for the bus? He goes, somebody. So somebody gave him money. And I'm like, this kid got thrown in the jungle and came back with a mink coat. Like he had everything, like he was living, you know.
SPEAKER_03Did he have a pillow too? He had a pillow, yeah. He had a bunch of stuff.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, he had a pillow, but he left it there because they were sitting on it. Um, but so yeah, and he he told me that. Um, and then I was like, Yeah, I was like, I've never been homeless before. I was like, but this seems kind of scary, dude. And I was like, your first night, were you scared? And he was like, he stopped and he looked at me and like he hesitated, and then he was like, Yeah. And I was like, I know, I bet it's scary. I was like, but you you know, I was like, it was dark and stuff, and he was like, Yeah, I was like, when the sun came out, I bet you you're happy. And he was like, Yeah. And then I go, where did you sleep? And he goes, Under a oh, he's at a bench. He said a park bench in Tempe. And then I was like, Really? Where? And he then he said, Under a bridge. So I'm thinking he slept under one of the bridges in Tempetown Lake, and like I just missed him or something. So I was like so mad at myself that I didn't get on that bird. But I'm like, I found him now, so we're okay, we're good. And um, so I'm sitting there, I'm just talking to him, um, asking him questions, and I was like, I was like, Well, you know, you you you scared everybody, Elijah. Like, I'm not gonna lie to you. And he was like, What do you mean? I was like, Well, people were looking for you, you know, you had people worried. Um this part's kind of difficult, the eye. So I was like, Your mom was worried. I was like, My Thea Esther, she was worried. And he like looked at me, he was like, What do you mean? I was like, Well, she was scared for you. Like, she's not mad at you, she's not upset that you ran away. She just hopes you're safe and she's scared. And then he said, I hate mom. And I was like, No, you don't. And he didn't say it again, but he was just like quiet, and that kind of set him off, and I noticed it. And so I asked one more question, and then he started making like a noise to like quiet me down. Like it was, I can't remember what it really was, but it was more just like a like an alarm kind of noise. And I was like, Oh, okay, and so I stopped talking, and I was just sitting there with him, but he was still making the noise, and so I finally turned to him and I said, Elijah, I'm not talking to you no more. You don't have to do that. And then he was like, Oh, okay. And we just sat there in silence for I don't know, like five minutes, maybe, and then Alexis showed up. And first thing he saw when he saw Alexis, he goes, Alexis.
SPEAKER_03This is his brother, by the way.
SPEAKER_00Oh, yes, Alexis is his brother, and he goes, Alexis, oh thank heavens. And so Alexis was like, What happened, man? Where you been? Like, tell me your journey, and Elijah was.
SPEAKER_07It was crazy when um when Alexis came, um, Elijah stood up and um Alexis didn't reach out to give him a hug, but like uh I could see Elijah like wanted to embrace him. Yeah, you know what I'm saying? Like he like his face, like I saw his face just lit up when he seen Alexis, and he just wanted to embrace him, but like Alexis was still like kind of like you know, just checking him. So his first instinct wasn't to give him a hug, but just to like look at him to see if everything was okay. You know what I'm saying? But Elijah was like, like, you know what I'm saying?
SPEAKER_03Like he saw him, he wanted to grab him, you know what I mean?
SPEAKER_07And then they just started talking and had their conversation.
SPEAKER_00But yeah, and then by this time, like all of us were already there on the sidewalk, you know, like those guys get out of here, have the old street blocking with cold and the big black bag, telling cars go around.
SPEAKER_03He's like over here with the whole damn street.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it was crazy. And it was like Alexis got there and was like, hey, um, tell me about your journeys. And oh, something before this, at that circle K that they last saw him at. Um, I was like, Well, where did you like find shade and stuff? He was like, Yeah, stores and stuff like that. And I was like, Okay. And I was like, well, like how long were you in stores? And then he said, Well, trespass. And I was like, What? And he was like, uh, man, trespass. And I was like, he told me leave. And I was like, Oh, like someone told you to leave, or they're gonna trespass you? Like you got kicked out of the store? And he was like, Yeah. I was like, Oh, so you were just hanging out in stores until they told you to leave. So he was that's how he stayed, because we were all worried about hydration uh and like how he was getting water because it's Arizona and it was really hot. I think that the high was like 116 that the two days he was missing. So like it was hot, and so we were all worried uh about that. So I was really curious how he the thing about Elijah though was like the the I wasn't too worried because when we had family functions, he'd be in the backyard the entire time. During the summer, during the summer walking around doing basically like sprints from uh wall to wall, like and he was out there and he wouldn't come inside until somebody said, Elijah, you need to drink water, right? And so that was my worry. That was like he doesn't realize he's thirsty because he's just out there having a good time. And I don't know how he is now. If you can speak to that, but like does he kind of understand where you came from? Like you were just looking out for him this whole time, or I when I talked to him, I did tell him.
SPEAKER_05Um I go, I I was worried, and he's all what? And I said, I was worried. I go, I was scared that you might get hurt, and I said, Because he said I'm I'm sorry, or he goes, I feel ashamed. And I said, Why do you feel ashamed? He said, For running away and I hit you. And I said, I said, It's okay. I said, I understand. I go, I'm sorry. And when I said I'm sorry, he said, you know, this he looked at me, um, made eye contact, and I said, I'm sorry because I didn't listen to you. And I didn't let you show me what you can do. And I go, now I see. I said it's okay. I go, um, it's not okay to hit me, but I understand why you did it. Um so I told him, now we need to start communicating, we need to start talking to each other so we can help each other. And he said, and no more yelling. It broke my heart. I mean, no more yelling because that day he hit me, I was it I was furious. I've never been hit like that in the face before, and he got me in my nose, and so I was mad, and I was like, You don't do that to me, you don't do that to your mom, and then kind of just like just go get you told me get out of the room. Um, but yeah, I told him no more yelling. I said, You're an adult, and we can we need to talk to each other, not yell at each other. So that kind of he's been good. Um I just think I've I've been the only one that's disciplined him, the only one that's told him no, the only that stopped him. So I'm like he calls me, I'm a maleficent Maleficent with the villain mom, you're maleficent. So I'm I'm the villain in his eyes. So there's no to him, there's no connection of this is the bad person.
SPEAKER_02She comes in the room and something you know, you can't feel that way either because Thea has been a single parent, and I applaud you because it's not easy. My mom is a single parent as well with four kids, but four kids to Elijah, that's one, you know?
SPEAKER_00And so with Hector, it's probably crazy with Hector. That's the oh my god. No, um I want to ask a question.
SPEAKER_01How did everybody feel when once you knew that you found Elijah?
SPEAKER_03Okay, how about we start with you? How about you tell us everything?
SPEAKER_01I felt like I don't know how to explain it. Like, I felt relieved that we felt we found him because like I knew he was safe with everybody around him because I knew like everybody was gonna rush to him. And we were rushing and uh we were stuck in traffic, and she was driving crazy.
SPEAKER_03She was immediately wanting to hold on for Julian.
SPEAKER_01And you guys were telling me to like try to type stuff, and I'm not good at you. And call people and nobody was answering.
SPEAKER_03So when you finally got there, yeah, what what were your feelings?
SPEAKER_01Um did you go up to him? I can't remember. No. No, when because like I was far away, but I kept on getting closer and closer.
SPEAKER_00Did you want to go up to him and like say hi Elijah? I missed you, or I was scared, or anything. No, we asked her, she said.
SPEAKER_01No, you asked, you asked me. I don't know, I just didn't want to.
SPEAKER_04I think she was like more scared that like he would have taken off if he's seen her.
SPEAKER_05Yeah.
SPEAKER_04Because like obviously, wherever Leilani goes, her mom's gonna be there, you know? So we kind of had like that thought in mind.
SPEAKER_01So I kind of thought like no, because like my mom was like, I was next to my mom, but then I every time some people would go over there, like a few minutes later, I would like try to walk closer. And then uh at one point I just lost my mom. She just slipped silence. I lost him. So then I so then I like try to like move my way towards him. And like I just peeked my head and then I just looked back. Did you see him? Yeah, I saw him. Did he look at him? No, he was busy showing my dad uh where he was on the map.
SPEAKER_03What was your feeling then when you've kind of seen him just for a second? Relieved?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, brand. Um, to be honest, I was like, I I don't know, the whole time that we were looking for him, it didn't feel real. Like to me, I was like, we're gonna find him. We're just gonna find him. Like, there's no way that we're not gonna find him. But then when you actually go out there and you're like looking, you're just like, oh my god, like it's horrible. Like, you don't want you don't want them to be out there. Like, you know what's out there and you see it when you're driving, but it's different when you're looking. When you're looking for people, when you're looking at people, when you're out there in the streets, going behind buildings, talking to actual people out there. I mean, it's scary and it scares you even more. And at first, when I first started, I was like, no, like we're gonna find him. Like, I was like, You gotta you gotta be the main focus, you gotta like know what you're gonna do. You can't lose it, you can't lose it. And so I was just like, okay, so I was like thinking, like, okay, where did where could he have gone? Like, that was my mentality. But once you start going out there, you're just like, oh my god, like I really hope like he didn't run into this crowd, right? I really hope he didn't run over here, and it's just like every nook and cranny in Phoenix, there's somebody there. Like, you go around a building in your own neighborhood, there's somebody there.
SPEAKER_07It's crazy, yeah. Like she said, you don't realize how deep the homeless population is until you're actually looking. You go around the building, you see homeless. You look behind the trash, can you see homeless? You know what I'm saying? And and like, I mean, I don't want to cut into your so you ask your question, but I don't want to skip a rise or nothing either. But you know, I mean, initially it was kind of like you're gonna find them, but once you get out there and you start looking and you see these people, you know, I mean, you start to get worried a little bit because it's like, you like, you know, you know who how Elijah is and stuff, and it's just like it's it's who the people he comes in contact with are the people that you're looking with. And it's not like just it's literally every single corner, every single corner, every place we were going to, like, and like that, like the time when we're out there like at 12, 1 o'clock, like literally like like there's just people laying in the middle of sidewalks, you know what I'm saying? People laying in the middle of like in the street, you know what I'm saying, like on the side, and it's just crazy, like just to see like all those people out there. So definitely, um, during the whole thing, I was worried for sure.
SPEAKER_04But when yeah, but when well, when I was just like, like when we were like searching, I was like, no, we're gonna find him, we're gonna find him. And like I did have my moment where I was just like, oh my god, like I would cry, but I was like, no, you can't cry because we're gonna find him. But when we actually said we're gonna find him, like Alex said, she's like, You're lying. I was kind of like, like, really, like we found him, like we found him, not the detective, not the police. We found him. And that was my thought was like, holy shit, we found them. Like, not somebody that was hired to, or that's their job. This is, I mean, technically it's not our job to go out there looking for people, but we fucking found him.
SPEAKER_07Not even one of the tips, yeah.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, we just found him, and that's what my thought, and I was just like, oh my god. And my other thought was like, go to where he's at, right? Right then and there. And that's why I was driving crazy. But yeah, and I was just like, I was relieved, but I was also worried and I was also scared because I was like, what if he wants to leave again? What if he doesn't want to come back? Because like I said, I've worked at the ACES and we deal with a lot of runaways over there. We deal with a lot of people that have their mindset like they don't want to be here, they don't want to do this, they don't want to do that, and that's their train of like the way that they're thinking. So yeah, and I'm just like, I mean, I've dealt with a lot of people like that, like with their mindset like that. And I'm just like, if we don't get over there, he's just gonna take off again. And like that was my turn. I thought I was more scared that he was gonna leave again. And I mean, um, for some reason, we ended up taking him back to my house for the night um with his brother because I live, me and my nephew live together. Um, and I did notice that he he was more calm than usual, and like whenever I asked him a question, it was an automatic, like, he would do it. Whereas before, he would be like, What? No, or what? No way. I don't think so. But when I was talking to him, he was just quiet, and he was just so I kind of think he knew what he did was was like not okay to do, and he was kind of reflecting on everything that was happening. And I will say one thing, that little shit. I will say this because when we found him and his brother got him in the car, he turned around, got in the car, and was like, Okay, goodbye, everybody. Like, we were looking up for him for two whole fucking days, like with two hours of sleep and shit, and missing two whole days of work. Like, God dang, like this little shit had us going, and he was over here, okay. Goodbye, everybody, with the backpack and everything. And then that's when I was kind of more relieved was when he actually did willingly go with his brother. And then he went to my house and he ate and he took a shower and he fell asleep, and he slept for a hot minute. So yeah, I think he was glad to be back.
SPEAKER_02I didn't I don't know if I want to touch on it.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I mean for me, obviously, like I was speechless because I didn't believe it. It was kind of disbelief. But I never had, like I said earlier, the feeling of worry or panic or anything. So the feeling of relief never really came over me. Um it was just like the oh I found him. That's crazy. Uh and it was a lot for me to process in the moment to feel how I was feeling, because I went into like, who are we gonna call? How are we gonna get him to calm down? How are we gonna get him to sit down? Like it was just a bunch of like I went into just like I don't want to say strategic mode, but strategic mode. Like I was like, how are we gonna do these things? And then eventually when I finally sat down with him and he was calm and I was able to ask him questions, I didn't feel relieved that we found him. I felt relieved for my Theo because like I know that like was a weight lifted off her shoulders. Like, yeah, it sucks that he doesn't want to see her in that moment, but at least she knows that he's here, we have eyes on him. Like, that would feel like amazing for any parent that has lost a child, and I mean it's just amazing that we found him because there's a lot of cases where people aren't found, and so like that's gotta be going through everyone's head. For some reason, I was not thinking like that. I was calm throughout the whole time, and I was able to like clearly think about the next steps and what we need to do. Um, it wasn't until after, like I said, I was able to process everything. I was happy for my theater, I was happy we found him. I started thinking about like up until like what moment slowed me down just enough to find him, and that was safe way getting someone to pray for me um for our family, and just happened to go through the rest of like the events through the night to find him, and it was just like that's where my mindset was at was like how much small things had to go right for me to find him in that moment for me, someone of his family, someone that I feel is generally closer to him than most people in the family. Um, on top of what like touch on what Bree said, like, how many people were actually looking for him, how many people were seeing these fires and calling and giving us tips, and it just happened to be one of us that found him. It's just like nothing short of a miracle. Like it's it's a blessing, it's God, you know. Um, how did you feel?
SPEAKER_07I was just happy. I mean, bottom line, I was just happy I was in leave, you know. That's pretty much where I'm at.
SPEAKER_02I think I was I was nervous when I saw him. I was happy that we found him, but I was nervous just like how everybody says he's gonna run away. Um I I thought like, yeah, he's close with Alexis, but doesn't even want to see anybody right now, like just because his mind has been through everything and you know, you just don't know how that's gonna turn out, but I'm just happy that we found him. How do you feel? I'm gonna go last.
SPEAKER_05No, I was relieved. I felt really relieved, I thought happy. Um but like I said, when once I got there, it didn't hit me until I got home. Like once I was there, I was like, like he's safe. I know he's safe, you know, and all everybody was around, they're not gonna let him run away, they're not gonna let nothing happen to him. So I felt a relief. Um I was it just broke my heart. He didn't want to come home. And you know, like I just said, I don't like mom, I hate mom. Um but I get it.
SPEAKER_03I do I just want to finish with a couple of finishing thoughts and also end on a really good and funny note. But like Brianna had said when we got there, it really felt I felt like I was watching a movie, like everybody was there, and to me, like I was relieved as well. But I also felt like so blessed, like everybody was hugging, everybody was telling each other love each other. Celeste, like she didn't put she was scared to go up to Elijah and just like gave her a hug. And she's like, I'm scared, I'm scared. I'm just like, it's okay, you know. I just I remember looking at my family thinking, wow, I'm so lucky. Like, no, a lot of people can say they have a family like this. Yeah, you know, um, and I was blessed to have like all the people who are involved that helped us and stuff. And even when we got to Brianna's house, um, I was kind of funny, but Alexis and I, he's not here right now, but I had a very like deep talk with him, and a lot of what he was saying, like I believed him, like I resonated, I felt it in my heart, but he was like, you know what? It's crazy what happened, but it needed to happen the way that it happened, and he's like, everything that happened, it happened for a reason. We all took something from it, like a little piece from it, in whatever way our own lives were like working around that time. Um, and he was just saying, like, it was very like godly and spiritual. And um, when I went home, well, my dad, my father, he's I love him to death. He's a great man. Um, but he had been searching, like he did the morning shift. He did he can't really see it next kid owed.
SPEAKER_06But uh he was up.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, you hear that? I didn't say nothing. Um he was out all night and then he got up literally like I think it was about five and started searching. So the next day when I woke up and he was making breakfast, I remember he was like, Oh my god, we did it, we did it. And we like hugged and embraced and we cried, and he's like, he's like, I'm so pissed.
SPEAKER_00Everybody was mad at me. It's so funny because it's like we're all happy we found him, but everyone's like, I can't believe it was Isaac. I can't believe it. Alyssa called Erica was like, Oh, I can't believe you guys found him, and she was like, I'm a little jealous. Everybody like felt like they were gonna find him. And one thing I did want to touch on before you close out everything, it's that's the way our family is like no matter how dire the situation was, the way we got through it like was through our humor, and like we were making jokes and cracking jokes. One before we found him, about like he's just probably out there partying having a big time. We were just cracking jokes about different things, or like, you know, um, just like someone was saying, like, you can't see. And I was like, Well, you know, why are you even looking if you're blind? Like, just cracking jokes, keeping everything light, and then after we found him, we were just talking about like Elijah's probably a king in the homeless world now. Like, I'm gonna go I told them I'm gonna go back to work and they're gonna be like, Oh, Elijah's cousin, what's up? He's so good. Like, it's so yeah, that's just like our family, and like that's what feel like got us through that.
SPEAKER_03So and that I mean, like, even to the next day, I was I was really proud of you, Dean. I don't know, like, is it okay for every what you posted? Oh, yeah, because it takes a lot of strength for again, like Isaac touched on Hispanic families have a tendency of like, and maybe it's in a lot of cultures, but it's when you're the parent, you're always right. And if you're the kid, you don't really have a voice sometimes. That's how we're raised, like very disciplined, and it's not until I think when you get older that you get close to your parents and you don't see them just like as a parent, but like somebody you can level with, somebody you like understand. So when I seen your post the next day, I was just like really amazed, you know, and I just wanted to read it. Um Elijah truly had an adventure from what I've heard. He was so proud of what he accomplished and where he had been, is what they told me. He did not want to see me nor come home, so Big Brother took him to Thea Bree's house. It truly hurt my heart, however, now I've had time to think about it and understand why. I see now this had to happen for me to see his full potential. I have sheltered him and have been overprotective over him and never ever left him alone. He would tell me when asking to take the city bus alone to the movie theater, I could do it, I adult, in his exact words. I never let him because he's not social, lacks communication skills, and has minimal language. I assume he just couldn't. Never once did I let him show me what he really could do. He finally just had a mental break due to my lack of knowledge or whatever you want to call it. He struggles to express or say what he needs to say, and he was screaming internally, and I didn't see it. He has taught me yet once again. I thank God for watching over him and opening my eyes. I feel ashamed that it had to come to this because I was so stubborn and scared to let him try or show me what he really could do. In all caps. Oh well, he really showed me, didn't he? Things are going to change in a positive way, and I pray God to help me and guide me through the fear and anxiety that I'll have to battle on having to let him explore. Thank you, everyone, again. Thanks to God for watching on him and bringing him home safe.
SPEAKER_05That was so hard. It was hard because I feel like it was my fault, you know, it all happened because it was my fault. I should have known, you know, I should have known. But I didn't.
SPEAKER_03But maybe this, I mean, like, thank God everything was wrong, you know, but I'm so glad that everything's okay. And it and you took a good perspective of it rather than like, oh, like you're so bad, or like don't ever do that, you know, like instead of like I guess uh that kind of mean approach where you don't learn anything from it. You know, and I think a lot of people can take from that from parents who have autism, even just normal people in general who are parents. I mean, just in general, I feel like when people are overwhelmed, everybody has a breaking point, you know. Um, so if you don't take anything, at least take that and just know that for me, I guess the biggest lesson you guys can say what you learn from it. But for me, it's sometimes in this world we're so dislike I said, desensitized, like everything's so negative because you know, that's what sells on the news shootings, deaths. Um I mean, there's crime podcasts for a reason. I'm one of those sick people that falls asleep to that stuff at night, you know. But like there's still a lot of good in this world, there's a lot of community, and there's a lot of spirit, and I, you know, whatever you want to call it, I believe that there's a God out there. And even my dad said it, you know, we had um well, my my grandparents passed away, and my dad truly believed that they were with him the whole time. And I had no doubt in my heart that that was true.
SPEAKER_00I mean, if you guys need to find your missing relatives, call the gas barker.
SPEAKER_03But anyway, thanks for everyone listening. You can find me at Alex G Cinema.
SPEAKER_05Um, don't follow me.
SPEAKER_03And uh we'll catch you next time.
