Missing Lake County teen located, returned to Wildwood home

A 19-year-old Wildwood teen reported missing since Nov. 14 has been located and returned to his home, Lake County Sheriff officials announced Tuesday.

Officials said they received a call late Monday from emergency room personnel at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago claiming they had Christopher Joseph in their care at the hospital.

Police said Joseph had been staying at the Pacific Mission in Chicago since November 13, but was transported to Northwestern when mission workers were unable to wake Joseph on Monday evening.

Paramedics took the teen to Northwestern, officials said, where it was discovered he was the missing teen.

"We are happy to have found Christopher in good condition and unharmed," said Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran. "Certainly this was the ending we were all hoping for."

A sheriff's investigator has picked up Joseph and brought him back to his parents.

During the ride back, Joseph told the investigator he was upset over an argument with his father and needed some time away.

When reported missing, investigators said Joseph lost his job at a video game store in Waukegan before the fight with parents. He fled the home without a coat, wallet or debit card.

Joseph stated he was never mistreated at the mission, but did have to abide by all the rules. Those rules stated he could not use the phone at the mission for 30 days.