Missing Autistic Teen from Bossier Found Walking to Shreveport Church

The search for a missing autistic teen from Bossier City ends well. City spokesman Mark Natale told KEEL News 14-year-old Joseph Allen LaCour was found safe this morning in Shreveport.

Natale said his godmother found LaCour as he was walking along Meriwether Road, near the intersection of West 70th, just south of Shreveport Regional Airport. The woman had just left home in her car, when she saw Joseph walking by himself along the road. She brought him back to his house in Bossier, where police were waiting to talk with him.

Detectives were able to find out that Joseph had walked all night to that location because he wanted to go to his family's church, which is in that area. The teen was upset that his family was unable to attend services yesterday, so he left his home on his own so he could go to the church.

Joseph was found to be very tired and hungry. He appeared unharmed, but Bossier City firefighters took him to a local hospital to be checked out as a precaution, due to his exposure to last night's frigid temperatures.

The Bossier City Police Deparment thanks the following agencies for their assistance during the search for Joseph:

Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office
Bossier City Fire Department
Louisiana State Police
Federal Bureau of Investigation
DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Office
U.S. Marshal's Office