Missing man found safe in hospital

His mother says, ‘He seems to be OK,’ will need time to recover

OAKLAND — The Santa Clara man missing for nearly two weeks was in an Alameda County Hospital for most of that time, but was only identified after an employee recognized him from a television news story.

Bobby O’Leary, 21, was reunited with his family Monday morning, according to police.

O’Leary went missing April 11 and was found three days later drifting in a boat near Alameda Island, according to Santa Clara police Lt. Dan Moreno. He was rescued by the Oakland Fire Department and transported to a hospital in Alameda County. O’Leary was not badly injured, Moreno said.

However, O’Leary’s family had no idea he had been found and had continued their search efforts. A hospital therapist recognized O’Leary from newscasts regarding his disappearance and contacted authorities, Moreno said.

“The mom and dad just reunited with him a couple of hours ago,” Moreno said Monday afternoon. “We’re glad he was found safe.

On April 20, Santa Clara police issued a missing persons news release regarding O’Leary’s disappearance.

On April 11, O’Leary ran from a security guard on the 5400 block of Great America Parkway just before midnight, leaving behind his dog and vehicle.

He was also spotted on April 12 and 13 near Alviso Marina County Park, walking away from the beaten path and into the mudflats.

O’Leary remains at Highland Hospital in Oakland, his mother Jean Laumeyer O’Leary said by phone Monday.

“He seems to be OK . ... He’s going to need some time to recover.”

She said it was “very unusual” for him to disappear the way he did. She expressed gratitude to all those who helped in trying to find her son.

A Facebook group called “Bring Bobby Home” raised more than $26,000 on Go-FundMe to supplement law enforcement efforts to find Bobby.

“This episode has been traumatic for all of us,” Jean Laumeyer O’Leary wrote on Facebook. “We thank everyone for the love and care that they have shown us. I am requesting that everyone give us some time as a family to process and recover. I will let people know when he is home and able to have visitors.”