Caleb Jacoby, Son of Jewish Boston Globe Columnist, Ran Away From Home, Police Say
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
Jewish teenager Caleb Jacoby, whose disappearance last week launched a massive search effort and went viral on social media, ran away from home on his own, the Brookline Police Department confirmed.
Officer Ronnie McNeil told Masslive.com that the police would not be continuing the investigation now that Jacoby has been found.
“He went on his own,” McNeil said.
The son of Boston Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby, Caleb went missing on January 6. By the following day, pleas for any information concerning the 11th grade Maimonides student were going viral on Twitter.
Caleb was found by police near Times Square in New York City around 9 p.m. on January 9. No information was released about what he was doing in New York or where he was staying during his disappearance.
The family celebrated Shabbat together on Friday in their Brookline home. Candles were lit in the dining room and Jeff Jacoby smiled at the head of the dinner table as friends and family gathered.
Caleb’s aunt, Debby Jacoby, reached at the Jacobys home, told Masslive.com, “They’re enjoying some private family time. As soon as they’re ready to talk, I’m sure they will.”
Early that day, Debby Jacoby had tweeted the following message, hinting that her nephew was finally home:
On Thursday Jeff Jacoby tweeted his thanks to all those who expressed concern for his son and helped in the search.
“Our prayers have been answered. We are thrilled to hear from the Brookline Police that our beloved son Caleb has been found and is safe. Words can’t express our gratitude for the extraordinary outpouring of kindness and support that we have received from so many people. All we can think of at this moment is how wonderful it will be to see Caleb again and shower him with love.”
Hundreds of volunteers put up flyers around the Boston area, in a search effort coordinated by Maimonides School, whose head, Naty Katz, thanked the police and community for their commitment.
“Words cannot express our profound relief and gratitude that Caleb Jacoby has been found and is safe,” Katz said on Friday.
“Additionally, we are profoundly moved by the incredible volunteer efforts that brought our community together with individuals and organizations from around the world to help in the search for Caleb,” Katz added. “This Shabbat (Sabbath), we can be especially thankful that our prayers have been answered.”
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