Missing 14-year-old boy from Plantation found safe

PLANTATION, Fla. – A 14-year-old boy who has been missing since Friday was found safe on Monday, authorities said.

Plantation police Officer Chavez Grant said Neeraj Kakarla is in good health and is in the process of being reunited with his family.

According to police, the freshman at Western High School had not been seen since Friday.

A search party was putting up flyers on Sunday in the area of Plantation Central Park, which is where Kakarla was last seen.

Police described the teen as 5-foot-8 and 125 pounds. He was last seen wearing jeans, a brown hoodie, and white shoes, and was riding a purple Roadmaster mountain bike.

Kakarla’s father told Local 10 News his son has never disappeared before, and nothing was out of the ordinary when he last saw his son.

14-year-old Neeraj Kakarla was last seen at Plantation Central Park. (Plantation Police)

Family friend Suzanne McKee headed up the search for the teen.

“Neeraj is a very sweet boy, very humble,” she said. “This is not something I would expect from him. He’s a rule follower.”

Police did not immediately say where Neeraj was found or whether he was with anyone during the time he was reported missing.


About the Authors

Bridgette Matter joined the Local 10 News team as a reporter in July 2021. Before moving to South Florida, she began her career in South Bend, Indiana and spent six years in Jacksonville as a reporter and weekend anchor.

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.

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