WENDELL, N.C. — Bentley Stancil, 9, spent the evening in an RV and even found out how you can feed himself after operating away Tuesday morning in Wendell. The seek for Bentley resulted in blissful tears simply earlier than midday on Wednesday.

His father, Brandon Stancil, described the reunion along with his son as “the best thing in the world” and on par with the second the kid was born.

Bentley left for the college bus to Carver Elementary on Tuesday morning however as an alternative was seen operating into the woods close to his dwelling. The FBI joined native regulation enforcement and volunteers within the seek for the boy, which sparked an Amber Alert.

A joyful household reunion

“He jumped about 10 feet into my arms,” Brandon Stancil mentioned in regards to the reunion along with his son. “I’m ecstatic. I’m just thankful that he’s safe, he’s sound, he’s not hurt and he’s alright.”

The father mentioned after looking out and worrying by way of the evening, he took off operating when he heard and noticed helicopters circling over the realm the place Bentley was discovered.

Searchers mentioned they recognized Bentley by his purple eyeglass frames. He seemed to be unhurt however was visibly emotional as he reunited along with his household.

Bentley’s sisters, Harmony Stancil and Jaden Hutchinson, mentioned they have been fearful for his or her brother and relieved he was protected.

“I’ll definitely be hanging out with him more often and showing him more love,” Hutchinston mentioned.

“It’s a reminder to hold your family close,” Harmony Stancil added.

Hid in a camper from the chilly

Surveillance photographs confirmed the Bentley stopped at a Hardee’s about two miles from his dwelling on Tuesday morning. Mother Kayla Stancil credited her son’s resourcefulness with conserving him protected from the chilly when temperatures dropped into the 30s.

“He found an RV to stay in, and it had power, so he stayed warm, didn’t get wet all night,” Brandon Stancil mentioned of his son.

According to his dad and mom and Wake Sheriff Gerald Baker, Bentley fell asleep within the camper and was discovered there Wednesday morning.

“He had been hiding in a camper in an area that we had been through, and then we got some more information and went back through,” mentioned Wake Sheriff’s Deputy Anthony Gurganus.

Bentley’s dad and mom mentioned he knew in regards to the danger of hypothermia due to a guide he had learn, and that he discovered meals to eat and a microwave to heat it up contained in the RV. It was not instantly clear to whom the camper belonged.

WRAL News spoke with a girl who owns the property the place Bentley was discovered on Marshburn Road in Wendell. She was not at that home throughout the search and solely realized in regards to the incident after Bentley was discovered.

Bentley’s father thanked the handfuls who helped within the search, together with regulation enforcement officers and neighbors.

“It’s amazing how people came together,” he mentioned. “I just want to tell everybody thank you.”

Neither dad or mum was clear on what prompted Bentley to run away.

“That’s the million-dollar question is why,” Brandon Stancil mentioned.

After a couple of hugs and a warmup contained in the Wendell fireplace station, the kid was taken by ambulance to a hospital to be checked out. It was discovered that he had a sprained ankle however no different accidents.

“He’s home now, and he’s eating, and he’s gonna get plenty of rest because he’s tired,” Kayla Stancil advised WRAL News.

His father mentioned the primary purpose is to search out out what he was considering to see what they’ll do to assist.