'He's safe': 17-year-old missing for three weeks found in Vinton County

A teenage boy who had been missing from Crawford County for three weeks was found alive Monday.

Preston Rachel-Beitzel, 17, left his family's Vernon Township home on May 2, the Telegraph-Forum previously reported.

More:ODNR official urges caution after latest hiking tragedy in a Hocking Hills region park

The boy was found in Vinton County at about 12:34 p.m. Monday, according to Crawford County Sheriff Scott Kent.

"To my understanding, he's safe," Kent said.

17-year-old found in Vinton County

Rachel-Beitzel had left his family's house on foot, and was then seen getting into a vehicle parked down the road.

He was reported as missing when he did not return home.

More:Homicide victim was home care coordinator for Crawford County Council on Aging

Kent's deputies gathered information from the boy's family and discovered a connection to the Ohio Valley.

"He went down there, I believe, voluntarily," Kent said. "We had some tips that he may be in the southeast part of Ohio. That's how we ended up having Vinton County check an address down there."

Criminal charges possible 

The boy was not expected to be back in Crawford County until Monday night.

"We currently have deputies going down to pick him up to bring him back to the area," Kent said Monday afternoon.

More:Tree-trimming, flowers planned at 'neglected' monument on East Mansfield Street

Whether or not Rachel-Beitzel or any of the people he was with have become criminals during the incident was unknown as of Monday afternoon.

"We'll be in contact with the court and prosecutors office to see if charges are relative in the case," Kent said. "We'd like to get him back here and talk to him first. We'll make some decisions then."

ztuggle@gannett.com

419-564-3508

Twitter: @zachtuggle