Dec 29, 2008 11:03 pm US/Eastern
Missing Norwegian Boy May Be Exploring Miami
MIAMI BEACH (CBS4) ―
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14-year-old Erik apparently ran away to explore America, leaving his family terrified of what could happen to the small town teen.
The Holst family was supposed to be on a plane back to Norway Monday night, but just a few hours before they were leaving for the airport, 14-year-old Erik vanished. He apparently ran away to explore America-- leaving his family terrified of what could happen to the small town teen, in the big city.
"He could be laying around or he could be with friends, I don't know but he doesn't have any friends in Miami so I don't know," said his mother, Ellen Holst.
Holst has no idea what Erik could be doing on his own in South Florida. The Holsts are from a virtually crime-free town of 6,000 people. Their back yard view is of cows, not skyscrapers.
"It's been horrible, absolutely horrible," said his father, Einar Holst. "A 14 year old boy in Miami?"
"It's a jungle out there."
The Holst family arrived in Miami two days ago after going on a Caribbean cruise. They say Erik had fun. They had no idea that at 11:30 Monday morning, he would slip out of the hotel and take off.
"He took all his luggage, he took his passport, he took everything and just left," said his father.
They say Erik has never done anything like this before, but they believe he planned it. Erik's friends back in Norway say he'd been talking about exploring America on his own, but they thought it was a joke.
"He was so bored of where we lived that he wanted to run away when we came to America and just go to LA, just try to become something famous," said his older sister Elizabeth.
Now this family is struggling to keep it together and determined to get their own son back safely.
"Erik please come home we love you very much," said Ellen Holst.
Miami Beach Police urge you to call them if you have any information on Erik's whereabouts. His parents say they won't punish him; they just want to understand how he could leave like this.
Miami Beach Police: 305-673-7900
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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