RICHMOND, Va. -- Richmond police said Adam J. Cruz, a man missing for several days, has been found safe and has been reunited with his family.
Officials made the announcement on Twitter Wednesday and credited VCU Police with spotting him.
Monday afternoon police issued an alert for the 27-year-old who suffers from mental health issues and had been missing since last week.
Penelope Cruz, his mother, pleaded for help and asked that people be on the lookout for her son and speak up if they see him.
"I just want to know that he is safe," Penelope said. "He is very kind, he is humble. He is not a danger to anyone."
His mom said she found out he was missing last Thursday.
"Nobody knew the exact time that he left, nobody knew whether he ate dinner that night, I just couldn't get any answers."
Adam had been staying at a group home in the 3400 block of Chamberlayne Ave. in Richmond when he apparently walked away. The owner of the group home told CBS 6, residents are allowed to leave the house on their own.
Surveillance photos are the last time his mom says he was seen.
She said he recently moved to Richmond from Virginia Beach, where she lives, because he needed special care.
His mom said this is very uncharacteristic of Adam, so she's nervous.
"My birthday was Wednesday. Adam didn't call me. Adam has never missed my birthday," said his mom. "I'm just so scared for him, I can imagine him out in the woods some place hurt, you understand, this is just not like him."
What's most concerning for Adam’s family is he doesn't have his medication. His mom said that could put him in a terrible state of mind. "When Adam is at his worse his brain completely shuts down, he cannot communicate, he can only look at you."
Adam's mom has been to Richmond to look for him, she said she'll be back tomorrow morning.
Police said Adam is known to wear women's clothing, and he sometimes answers to the name Chelsea.
Anyone who has seen Cruz was asked to call Major Crimes Detective William Thompson at 804-646-3925 or Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000.
