A group effort helped bring a missing Egg Harbor Township teen home, police said.
In the nearly Joel Medina was missing, the community and various aspects of law enforcement came together to search for the autistic 17-year-old who functions at a much younger level.
Police Department is pleased to report that the missing juvenile, Joel Medina was safely located in the early morning hours of March 22, 2026, following an extensive and exhaustive search lasting nearly 36 hours.
Joel was found through use of aerial assets equipped with FLIR — forward-looking infrared technology, as the search went into difficult terrain near Fourth Street and West Jersey Avenue behind the Shore Mall.
"Multiple Egg Harbor Township police officers, detectives, New Jersey State Police K-9 teams and FBI personnel navigated difficult terrain to safely reach and recover him," township Police Capt. Michael Finnerty said. "He was escorted out of the same terrain, which came with many challenges and reunited with family as he was treated by Egg Harbor Township EMS."
Joel went missing around 3 p.m. Friday and was found in the early morning hours Sunday.
In that time, the community came together with prayers and their own searches for the teen.
"This successful outcome was the result of an extraordinary, unified effort at every level — community-wide, county-wide, state-wide and federal," Finnerty said. "All involved shared one mission and one goal: to locate Joel safe, sound and reunite him with his family."
The department "extends its deepest gratitude to the dedicated men and women who demonstrated unwavering commitment, professionalism and perseverance throughout this operation," he said. "Despite challenging conditions and heavily wooded terrain, personnel remained resolute in their efforts until Joel was found."
The agencies that helped include: township police Patrol Division, Detective Bureau, K-9 and Communications, the FBI, · Atlantic County Office of Emergency Management, Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, township EMS, state Office of Emergency Management, NJSP K-9 Units, K-9 officers from the Atlantic and Cape May county sheriff's offices, NJSP Aviation Unit, U.S. Coast Guard Aviation, search-and-rescue teams from Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Camden and Gloucester counties, NJSP Missing Persons Unit, Atlantic County Dive Team, NJSP Emergency Response Bureau, AtlantiCare EMS and Cape May County Mounted Patrol Unit
"This outcome reflects the strength of collaboration, the power of community, and the relentless dedication of those who serve," Finnerty said. "The support from the public, our partner agencies and volunteers was instrumental in bringing this incident to a safe and positive conclusion.
"A special thank you to Joel’s school staff from the Atlantic County Special Services School and their unwavering support," he continued. "This is truly a happy ending, and we are grateful that Joel has been reunited with his family."
