Runaways Found at WDW!

[HookdonWDW]

I wonder who's going to be footing their college bill next semester

Missing Students Found at Walt Disney World

ORLANDO, Florida (CNN) -- Two Michigan State University students missing since July 26 were found Saturday in a hotel near Walt Disney World, police said.

"They're fine -- according to what they told us, they were taking a vacation," said Elise Camille, a spokeswoman for the sheriff's office in Orange County, Florida.

The couple, 21-year-old Justin Gouveia of Lowell, Massachusetts, and 19-year-old Danela Alfaro-Lopez of Dearborn, Michigan -- were found after police came across their blue 2002 Kia Rio during a routine check in the parking lot of the Inn Town Suites just outside Orlando, Camille said.

Alfaro-Lopez told police that her mother told her not to travel with her boyfriend to Florida from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and, to avoid being found, they did not use their cell phones or credit cards, Camille said.

"She said she was 19 and was going to do whatever she wanted to," Camille said. "We just told them to call their parents."

Whether they return to their families "is up to them," she said. "No crime has been committed. We cannot tell them to go back home. They are adults. It's really up to them."

The couple met three years ago at Disney World, and Gouveia transferred to Michigan State University to be with Alfaro-Lopez.

"I'm so grateful that they're found," said Susan Flynn, Gouveia's great aunt, who was reached at the parents' home in Lowell. "At the same time, I'm so confused as to why my nephew would ever put his mom and dad through this. I just can't believe that part. I just can't believe that they did this."

Gouveia was interning this summer with the Boston Harbor unit of the Massachusetts State Police. After their Cape Cod vacation, they had told their parents they planned to visit Gouveia's parents in Maine, Flynn said.

Both are pre-law students.

 

[nativetxn]

Sometimes you <i>need</i> a vacation from MSU

 

[NancyIL]

If one of my kids did that, you'd better believe they'd be paying their own college bills from that point on!!

 

[campingcorgi]

Sometimes we need a vacation from family, too!

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

That was so big here because they disappeared from Cape Cod.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

I doubt I would be paying the tuition. My house, my rules. My way or the high way. Simple. If she is old enough to do what she wants, then she can pay her own darn bills.

 

[HookdonWDW]

ITA Gail. On top of the worry they caused, from what I've read, the bills for the "search" are over $20,000.00. Plus, the police and detectives who were looking for them could have been out trying to help someone who really needed it.

If they felt old enough to do what they wanted, they should have been mature enough to tell people what they were doing, or at least that they were safe.

Hope the vacation was "worth it"

 

[aahmom1]

I don't think with them being 19 and 21, I would call them 'runaways'. They are adults, they can do what they want. No where does it say the parents are paying their tuition.

 

[MI mom of 3]

I live in Michigan and it has been all over the news.

There is something about this whole thing that just doesn't add up. They were found days ago and yet they are still in Florida.

The family says that the "kids" have things that they have to work out etc.

Not that it is any of our business but there is more here than simply wanting to go on vacation.

 

[goofyernmost]

Well, shoot me if you want but they were 19 and 21 years old. My thought is "WHO CARES". This isn't news worthy stuff. Should they have told someone, yes, probably, but something tells me we don't know the whole story and a family that is that controling is probably a good one to get away from.

I'm glad they are OK but I really don't see what the big fuss was about. A lot of people disappear everyday and no one is making a national case out of that. I guess it just depends on who you are or who your parents are.

 

[Disbug]

This story sure makes these kids seem selfish doesn't it? They wanted a holiday, okey dokey, but didn't they think anyone would be frantic with worry in this day and age? I find it ironic that these are pre-law students as well. Frankly, if they were my kids I would be so disappointed. I don't consider them adults... they acted very childish...