Missing 16-year-old from Graham found safe at Great Wolf Lodge in Thurston Co.

GRAHAM, Wash. -- Sixteen-year-old Kenny Laase of Graham, who disappeared Thursday, was found safe Friday night and is being returned to his family, Graham Kapowsin High School said.





The Thurston County Sheriff's Office said Kenny was found at the Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound, Wash., near Centralia, and that Kenny's father was on his way to pick him up.

No information was immediately released as to what Kenny was doing or if he was with anyone.

Kenny Laase’s family says he disappeared sometime Thursday morning. Pierce County sheriff's deputies listed him as a missing person but said late Thursday night that they considered Laase a runaway. But they were still actively searching for him.

According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, a neighbor told the boy’s family at 1 p.m. Thursday that his car had been left on the side of the road idling for four hours.

The car was found on 228th Street East just west of Orting Kapowsin Highway in Graham — less than 1/3 of a mile from the family’s home.

Kenny’s cell phone and school work were still inside the car.



Deputies said Laase likely got a ride from a woman at a gas station near his house to the Yelm area. The woman who allegedly gave Laase a ride reached out to Q13 FOX News. She claims she didn't know he was a teenager, and thought she was helping him out when he asked for a ride.

"I have kids myself and want nothing more than for him to be found," the woman said.

Officials said Laase had attended morning classes at Graham Kapowsin High School but did not arrive at his 1 p.m. Thursday Running Start college class at Pierce College.

“Kenneth Laase has no history of running away, no suicidal issues, and no known drug or alcohol issues.  His disappearance is described as highly unusual and very concerning,” said Detective Ed Troyer.