Missing 12-year-old New Jersey girl with autism found safe in New York City

PASSAIC, New Jersey (WABC) -- A missing 12-year-old girl with autism was found safe in New York City after a frantic search.

Police said Michelle Cortes, of New Jersey, was unharmed. She was in the custody of child services, and she was reunited with her parents Saturday morning.

Cortes was reported missing after running from her school in Passaic around 1 p.m. Friday and never returning home.

Police have not confirmed why she was in New York City or how she got there.

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