An exhaustive search has ended with a happy ending.

Justin Shields, a 19-year-old University of Florida student who has been missing since Wednesday, was found alive, the county sheriff's office said on Sunday.

The LCSO K-9s found it in a wooded area off Old Magnolia Drive, in the northeastern suburb of Tallahassee, where his car was found Friday.

"As far as we know, he is in good health," said LCSO spokesman Dave Teems, who added that the young man was being evaluated by medical services. emergency in case. "He was a little disoriented when we took him out, so we're just focused on his health right now."

In a video posted on Facebook, Shields' family members kissed, ecstatic and hysterical, shouting in relief – "My baby – is he okay? Oh my god!" – after the deputies told them the news.

In another moving video, his family lined up against each other, thanking everyone who helped find him.

"Thank you very much for the Leon County Sheriff's Office, volunteers, firefighters, the former USSR – I do not know if I leave anyone, but we found it and we We are very grateful, "says her mother, Ann Farrar. video, wiping a tear from his eye, "so grateful to all the professionals and all those who gave up their time to find Justin and bring him home."

His roommate Jacob Tendler, 19, saw him for the last time at 1 pm. Wednesday near the Williams Building on FSU campus.

"I was just really happy that we finally found it and that it did not take too much time," said Tendler. "It could have been a lot worse."

Concerns ensued after family and friends did not see or hear of Shields since Wednesday.

More than a hundred volunteers joined the Leon County Sheriff's Office to lend a hand in search of shields. A little less than 100 volunteers joined the first wave of research on Sunday morning, then about 70 in the second wave later in the day, Teems said.

In total, about 300 people, including volunteers and law enforcement personnel, participated in the research, said OHCC spokeswoman Shonda Knight.

Chris Andrade, 47, a Publix maintenance officer, sympathized with Shields' family when he saw a call on social media for help in finding the young man.

"I just want to help (look) to help the parents, no one should have to go through that," Andrade said Sunday afternoon, before Shields was found. He helped to reduce the paths to facilitate the quest of researchers.

More: The LCSO looking for a 19-year-old student missing from the FSU, asking for information

The LCSO received a call Friday around 3 pm about a "suspicious vehicle".

It was a white Ford Fusion near a wooded and bushy area a few miles from Old Magnolia Road, just before Panther Creek and on a 200-acre plantation called Ring Oak. The remote area in the northeastern suburb of Tallahassee has red signs warning against intrusions.

Shields' father confirmed that the car was his son. His father said he knew no reason for his son to be in this area, said Teems. The research effort was ongoing and he was eventually found about a mile and a half north of his car's place, Teems said.

The helicopter joined the LCSO SWAT team. Helicopters were volunteer organizations such as the Miccosukee volunteer fire service, the FSU drone team, the Jefferson Correctional Institute, the Deep South Mud Riders, the

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission sent boats and the LCSO dive team also helped dive into the coves and ponds of the area.

The LCSO had a mobile command center less than five kilometers from this area at the Hilltop Country Store near Highway 90.

Dozens of cars were parked in front of the country restaurant, most of them belonging to volunteers, said Teems. Miccosukee Fire Rescue volunteers donated money to pay Hilltop to make sandwiches for volunteers.

Teems said the deputies had Shields' phone, which he had left in his car with his keys, and was able to access it for any clue.

When asked how he was doing, Tendler replied that he was "relieved".

"I'm fine now," he said.

Join Nada Hassanein at [email protected] or on Twitter @nhassanein_.

Read or share this story: https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2018/09/09/missing-fsu-student-found-sunday/1250396002/