Teen starts filling out college applications — discovers he's been a missing person for 13 years from a minor detail
We spend our lives trying to learn about ourselves and who we are. One of our major goals in life is to find an identity and know where we come from. Imagine spending almost two decades of your life thinking you’re someone, only to discover something astonishing. An 18-year-old boy, Julian Hernandez, was filling out college applications when he stumbled upon a chilling discovery, per a statement. The boy realized that he had been kidnapped by his non-custodial parent and was being raised by him. He had been missing since 2002 from the age of 5. Bobby Hernandez had kidnapped his kid and had been looking after him ever since and it was only when the teenager was unable to match his social security number that he learned of the news, per CBS News.
Julian was filling out college applications and realized that his social security number didn’t match his name. With the help of a school counselor, he tried to fix the issue, but in vain. Instead, the representative found his name in the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children database. On further investigation, the Alabama police verified that Julian Hernandez reported missing in 2002, was still not found, per CNN. After speaking with Bobby, Julian learned he was the missing person all along. The boy had been reported by his mother but was never found despite “tireless hours” of searching and investigating.
Lieutenant Johnny Evans remarked, “I've been doing this 25 years and it's something I've never experienced before.” The dad was arrested in Ohio where he confessed. The teenager had his whole world turned upside down and discovered a profound truth about his life from an application form. The boy, however, is not angry at his father but is grateful for having had him to “push him through” at school and through the years. “The time I’ve spent with him is the only time I’ve ever felt peace,” he remarked.
Julian’s mom was “ecstatic” about finding her boy after nearly two decades. She mentioned that she never stopped searching and was overjoyed to reunite with her son. "That's the reason you never give up and you keep looking," said Evans. "Our family was overjoyed this week to locate Julian and learn that he is safe. We want to thank everyone for their prayers and support during Julian's disappearance,” the family mentioned.
County Prosecutor Tim McGinty wanted to deliver a long sentence to Bobby as the boy was deprived of his mother’s love and “lived a lie” for 13 years. Julian, however, explained that having lived a life “without a mother was painful” but he insisted that they keep his father out of prison to not go through the pain of the lack of a parent all over again. He highlighted that though he was kidnapped, his dad did everything to look after him and raise him well. Bobby, too, pointed out that Julian was “the most important thing” in his life. “Even if other people can't, I forgive him for what he's done. I love him and I want him to be a part of my life,” Julian said.