FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. — Police say 12-year-old Peter Bresko wandered off from his father Saturday around 11 a.m. at the farmers market in Fernandina Beach. Nearly 33 hours later, investigators got word Peter was found in Alachua County.
"We're so relieved, we've just been praying for Peter and as we were walking tonight, looking for him thinking OK he's hiding somewhere," said Sheila Kent.
Police say at one point Sunday the boy called the Runaway Children's Hotline and calmly reported that he was safe and not in danger. On another occasion this afternoon, his aunt called to say that she had her nephew in Fernandina Beach.
Police say this isn't the first time Peter wandered off. They say Peter was just visiting Fernandina Beach for the summer and was supposed to fly back to his mother July 31. But police say Peter didn't want to fly home.
"He got off the plane, made an excuse to get off the plane, left the ticket area," said Lt. Jack Bradley.
Bradley said Peter's father booked another flight for his son Saturday, and when Peter found out, he wandered off again.
"He had had some kind of issues where he was from and didn't want to go back," said Bradley.
Peter is currently in the custody of the Florida Department of Children and Families. Police say they are still piecing together how he got to Alachua County. The investigation is ongoing.
WJAX
