Crystal Lake teen found in Utah

A Crystal Lake teenager with a developmental disability who had been missing since Tuesday has been located near Salt Lake City, Utah, police said Friday morning.

Trenton Johnson, last seen at his parents' home around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, was found safe in Wendover, Utah, at about 8:30 p.m. Thursday, police said.

Johnson is now in protective custody with the Tooele County Sheriff's Office as his parents prepare to pick him up and bring him home, police said.

Sheriff's deputies found Johnson in his parents' car after running his license plate and discovered he was listed as missing, Crystal Lake Cmdr. Dan Dziewior said.

“It's not known at this point what the draw was that brought him there,” Dziewior said, calling it a “good ending to a potentially terrible situation.”

Johnson, who has been diagnosed with a form of autism called Asperger's syndrome, sent a text message to a friend saying he was going to New York, and reportedly visited two friends along his journey.

Police say Johnson visited a friend in Nokomis, Ill. but left before authorities arrived.