Teen with Autism Goes Missing After Boarding Flight to Miami Without Family’s Knowledge

Authorities and concerned relatives are searching for an 18-year-old Texas man with autism who vanished after traveling to Miami.

Jonathan Andrew Torres was last seen in the vicinity of 7130 Harding Ave., in Miami Beach, on May 8, according to a missing person’s bulletin shared with PEOPLE on Friday, May 15,

Michelle Lowe-Christensen, Torres’ grandmother, told NBC affiliate WTVJ that her grandson had left work in Austin on May 6, but did not return home at his usual time.

The family later found out that Torres went to the airport and boarded a flight to Miami without their knowledge.

“He’s enamored with Miami, he wants to be here, and he wants to do all the fun things he sees TikTokers do,” she told WTVJ.

Relatives said that Torres has not answered calls and texts, believing that his family would discourage him from making the Miami trip, the outlet reported.

Lowe-Christensen said that her grandson arrived in South Florida on May 7, with video footage capturing him at the Costa Norte Boutique Hotel, where he was slated to stay for two nights.

The family, which has access to his phone messages and bank account, began tracking his phone, but the tracking apps went dark two days later, on Saturday, May 9.

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“He’s very intelligent, but he doesn’t see fear,” Lowe-Christensen told WTVJ. “He doesn’t see that people are bad.”

Miami Beach Police described Torres as 5 feet, 6 inches tall and between 130 and 140 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes.  Anyone with information on Torres’ whereabouts is urged to contact the department at 305-673-7900.