Three teen boys found safe after leaving Mesa junior high school

(From left to right) Christian Taylor, Nicholas Hensley-Pavich and Tyler Whittaker.(Mesa Police Department)
Published: Sep. 29, 2022 at 9:53 PM MST

MESA, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) -- Police say three teen boys who went missing early Thursday morning have been found safe. Officers searched for 14-year-old Christian Taylor, 13-year-old Nicholas Hensley-Pavich, and 13-year-old Tyler Whittaker. The teens were last seen around 9 a.m. at Rhodes Junior High School near Baseline and Dobson roads.

Police believed the boys were together and might have been walking in the Mesa area or a neighboring East Valley city. However, their families were concerned since all of the boys have been diagnosed with mental disorders, investigators said. Authorities announced early Friday morning that they were located in Phoenix and are safe.

Taylor is described as a White teen with brown hair and brown eyes. He is 5′2 and weighs 110 pounds. Taylor was last seen wearing a light blue Nike shirt, black shorts with a white stripe, white socks and black slides. Hensley-Pavich is described as a White teen with brown hair and blue eyes. He is 5′1 and weighs 90 pounds. He was last seen wearing a gray shirt with writing on it, black pants and black Vans. Whittaker is also a White teen with brown hair and brown eyes. He is 5′11 and weighs 130 pounds, and was last seen wearing a white shirt, blue jeans, a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball hat and red and white shoes.