Missing Into the Wild Teen Found Dead

Police believe Johnathan Croom's death was suicide
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Aug 27, 2013 2:17 AM CDT
Missing 'Into the Wild' Teen Found Dead
The body of18-year-old Johnathan Croom was found in southwest Oregon.   (AP Photo/Courtesy Monica Croom)

The father of an Arizona teenager whose body was found yesterday evening near his abandoned SUV in the woods of southern Oregon says his son was "a young man who had a broken heart." The body of Johnathan Croom, 18, was found about 1,000 feet from where his vehicle was found abandoned last week, a police spokesman says. The death is being investigated as a suicide.

The teen had talked with his parents about the book Into the Wild and told a friend he wanted to run away. Croom's father says his son was grieving the end of a relationship "and headed out to try to find himself." He thanked everyone who helped search for his son and added, "Please pray for our family." (More Johnathan Croom stories.)

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