Update: Missing At-Risk Youth Phones Home: "I'm Okay, But I'm Not Coming Home"

Update 4:30p.m.

Keoni Fernandezees, a Pacifica youth missing since sometime Wednesday night or Thursday morning, called his mother earlier this afternoon, according to his father Palemento Fernandezees.

“He called his mom briefly, maybe 20 seconds: ‘Mom, I’m okay. I’m safe, but I’m not coming home,’ and hung up,” Palemento said. “She tried to talk to him, but he just repeated what he said the first time.”

Keoni called his mother, Desiree Martinez - who lives in Millbrae - from a blocked number so she would not able to tell where he was, Palemento said.

Although he now believes that Keoni has run away, his dad is still concerned for his son's well-being because the 16-year-old lives with and takes medication for an undiagnosed mental illness that affects his memory.

“Our thing is, Keoni is almost 48 hours without being on his medication,” Palemento said. “It’s very good news that he’s alive; my concern now is we need to try to track him so we can bring him home.”

Palemento fears that if Keoni stays off of his medication, he may not remember phone numbers to call home.

Keoni doesn’t drive, his father said. He uses public transportation for trips between San Bruno, Millbrae and Pacifica, which is how his father believed he left Pacifica Wednesday night.

Pacifica Police said earlier this afternoon that Keoni might harm himself. They classified him as “at-risk.”

It was Palemento’s “gut instinct" that led Pacifica Police to including that detail in their missing person flyer.

“You know, some teenagers just decide to check out,” Palemento said. “And I thought that’s where his mind was, but apparently this morning he is very alert and alive, thank God.”

However, Palemento continued, his fear for Keoni’s safety isn’t much diminished.

Palemento suspects that Keoni is at a friend’s house. He hopes that continued coverage will bring him out and urges anyone who knows where he might be to contact Pacifica Police at 650-738-7314 or him personally at 650-834-3934.

Original post 1:04p.m.:

Police are searching for a missing Pacifica juvenile who they say is mentally ill and may harm himself. 

Keoni Fernandezees, 16, was last seen between 10:30 p.m. on July 13 or 6:30 a.m. on July 14, police say. He reportedly walked away from his apartment on 104 Franz Court in Pacifica wearing gray sweatpants and gray sweatshirt. 

said in an at-risk missing person flyer they published early this afternoon that Fernandezees's family believes he may hurt himself. 

The youth frequents San Bruno City Park at Crystal Springs Avenue and Oak Avenue in San Bruno, and Pacifica's beaches, although his family does not know which beaches, police said. He has friends in San Bruno and Millbrae. 

According to police, Fernandezees is 5'4", 165 lbs. with black eyes and brown hair.

Police are asking anyone who has information about Fernandezees's whereabouts to call them at 650-738-7314. 

Stay tuned to Pacifica Patch and our Facebook page for updates.