Crime & Safety

Missing Garwood and Cranford Teens Found Safe

Jayson Bernardo and his girlfriend, of Cranford, were picked up at 11 p.m. Monday in Roselle.

Missing 16-year-old Garwood teen Jayson Bernardo was picked up Monday night in Roselle and returned to his parents after leaving home Sunday evening under the guise of picking up his cell phone from his friend's home.

Bernardo had been traveling, both by car and on foot, with his girlfriend Amber, of Cranford, who was also reported missing

"They were picked up near Wendy's in Roselle last night around 11 p.m.," said Bernardo's mother AnnMarie Torres, who filed a missing person's report with Garwood police Monday morning. "They gave the kids to their respective towns and we had to pick them up at the station. They're both fine."

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"It was only one day but it felt like an eternity," continued an exhausted-sounding Torres. "I don't know what goes through these kids' minds sometimes."

Bernardo had been grounded for returning home at 1 a.m. on July 18 and was not supposed to leave his home on Sunday. Torres said her son wanted to return home yesterday but was scared that he was in trouble for not coming home Sunday night. 

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"He said that he will never do that again," said Torress.  "I just hope that he stays true to his word. He's been very sheltered living in a town like Garwood. I've tried to explain to him that other places aren't like this and that things can go bad very quickly."

Earlier this month the Cranford Police Department located Wiktoria Dziekanska, 14, who had gone missing from her residence. A county alarm was issued and the Union County Police assisted in the search. Dziekanska was returned home safely by Cranford police.


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