A boy with autism who wandered away from his family Thursday afternoon at a Skokie mall was found safe hours later in the same area he went missing.
Eight-year-old Brooklyn Venter was last seen near the LL Bean department store at the Old Orchard Shopping Mall when he disappeared at about 1:15 p.m.
That set off a massive search for the boy, with the help of many strangers who have loved ones with autism, who showed up to help out.
The boy was found at around 7:39 p.m. hiding in a back access, employees-only stairwell on the second floor of the store and was quickly reunited with his parents.
Brooklyn's dad, Rafael Venter, knew his son was likely cold and hungry.
"He's eating fries. He's a fast food guy like me, so that's not good, but he's eating his fries and that's good news," he said.
Brooklyn's mother, Gina Venter, said the boy just disappeared.
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"He was gone in a second. Not like I wasn't watching him, he just ... that moment came and that was it," she said.
Police said Brooklyn, who is a non-verbal autistic, does not respond to his name if called.
