Investigators with the Sweetwater County Sheriff's Department used the purchase of a laptop computer at a pawnshop to find a missing Nebraska teenager this week.

Department spokesman Dick Blust says a retired couple from Nebraska contacted the Sheriff's Department about their missing grandson, who had abruptly left work. His vehicle, which had broken down, was discovered in Rock Springs. The grandparents were concerned because the boy had posted messages on Facebook that indicated he might harm himself.

Investigators learned that while the grandson had a cell phone he didn't have the means to charge it. He also didn't have a tablet or laptop with him.

Corporal Jason Mower, playing a hunch, checked with some Rock Springs pawnshops and found the teenager had purchased a laptop in one of them. Mower then checked some fast food restaurants that had wireless internet access and found the youth near a Rock Springs McDonald's.

At last report the boy and his grandparents where headed back to Nebraska. The Sheriff's Department is not identifying either the teenager or his grandparents because of privacy concerns.

 

 

More From KGAB