FBI rescues missing autistic teen after two days lost in frigid wilderness

FIRST ON FOX: FBI agents successful Newark, New Jersey, rescued a missing 17-year-old autistic lad aft a tense, astir two-day hunt successful near-freezing temperatures, uncovering him successful rugged terrain aft efforts by section authorities and the Coast Guard came up empty.

Joel Medina, who functions astatine the level of a six-year-old, vanished adjacent his location Friday and spent aggregate nights exposed to the cold, prompting an urgent, multi-agency response. 

FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News Digital the rescue highlighted "the champion of the FBI."

"This communicative is the champion of the FBI — jumping into enactment quickly, mobilizing our outstanding teams and resources with large partners, and refusing to springiness up successful bid to support and service our chap American," Patel said. 

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The Egg Harbor Township Police Department released an representation of Joel Medina, right, who was rescued by the FBI aft 2 days missing successful the wilderness. (Getty; Egg Harbor Township Police Department)

"Thanks to our brave agents retired of FBI Newark, satellite people CIRG aviator teams, and coordination with large section and national partners — Joel is location harmless from what could’ve been dire circumstances," helium continued. "I’m truthful arrogant of our teams and thankful for the resolution."

The archetypal study was that Medina wandered into a heavy wooded country of preserved onshore adjacent that contains a way system.

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Surveillance video extracurricular his location did not amusement him leaving, prompting interest helium was perchance abducted.

The Egg Harbor Township Police Department responded on with hunt and rescue teams from Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Gloucester counties. 

The FBI recovered a constituent of involvement utilizing an aviation team. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP )

Drone teams, New Jersey State Police and U.S. Coast Guard choppers conducted aerial searches and K-9 teams were deployed to behaviour a crushed search.

Underwater hunt and rescue teams with divers were besides sent to hunt adjacent bodies of water.

On Saturday morning, detectives asked the FBI for assistance and agents conducted an exhaustive vicinity canvass for immoderate imaginable surveillance video, searched the country surrounding the Medina household, and participated successful a grid hunt of the woods adjacent the home. Agents besides interviewed everyone with a turkey hunting licence to find way camera footage.

An FBI level was sent up into the aerial astatine astir 9:30 p.m. section clip to behaviour a grid hunt of the area, and aft 3 hours, discovered a imaginable constituent of involvement heavy wrong the preserved land.

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FBI Director Kash Patel listens during the Senate Committee connected Intelligence hearings connected Capitol Hill Wednesday, March 18, 2026, successful Washington.  (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Agents trekked done muddy terrain successful the acheronian and yet recovered Medina curled up successful a shot adjacent to a tree.

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Medina, who was lone wearing shorts and a T-shirt, was guided by the FBI retired of the woods, arsenic the aviation squad stayed overhead, ensuring they made it retired safely.

When agents reemerged, galore of them were scratched and bleeding from navigating the dense brush.