Missing Teen Chris Carpenter Found Safe in Naperville

A Naperville teen reported missing last week has been found safe.

Chris Carpenter, 16, was located Tuesday morning and is in police custody. His parents are making their way back from Denver to be reunited with him.

A story in the said the Carpenters had traced their son to Denver, but he was found in Naperville, according to police and a message the Carpenters sent to family.

“… I wanted all of you wonderful people to know that Chris is now in the custody of the Naperville police,” father Mike Carpenter said in a message to concerned friends and family. “It appears he made his way back to Naperville on his own. … We could not of [sic] made it through this past week without your prayers, your help and your encouragement! God bless you all.”

An alert resident who spotted the teen in a local fast food restaurant called police at about 12:30 p.m. Officers who responded were able to positively identify Chris Carpenter, said Sgt. Gregg Bell in a news release.

The teen willingly accompanied officers back to the police department, where he is expected to be re-united with his parents Tuesday night, Bell said in the release.

Both the Carpenter family and police thanked residents for their help.