Teen on school trip flees at SFO stop Teen who fled SFO found in

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Nov 28, 2006

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO -- Authorities confirmed Monday night that a 14-year-old Atlanta boy on a school trip reported missing from San Francisco international Airport had been located in Fort Bragg on the North Coast.

San Francisco Airport Duty Manager Dennis Neves said the boy was at his brother's house in Fort Bragg. "The brother has been in contact with the police," Neves said, and he confirmed that the boy was unharmed and in custody.

Police had searched for the boy, identified as Mark Ross, after he disappeared Monday morning before he was to board his connecting flight.

Mark flew in to San Francisco International Airport from Honolulu and was supposed to board a flight to Detroit, later continuing on to Atlanta. He was last seen leaving a security checkpoint at the airport around 6 a.m., SFO spokesman Mike McCarron said.

Sgt. David Johnson of the San Francisco Police Department Airport Bureau said Mark, who was traveling with his school band, approached an adult instructor and asked if he could go to a store inside the airport to purchase something. Mark was reportedly overheard stating that he did not want to see his father.

An airport security camera captured Mark leaving the checkpoint line on his own with his backpack and trumpet in tow, Johnson said.

He said airport officials and police combed SFO in search of the teen.

A friend of the teen reportedly received a text message from Mark around 12:30 p.m. that read "Goodbye," police report.

"There's no foul play," Johnson said. "He's a runaway at this point."