Missing Disabled Man Found Safe In North Miami Beach

WEST PARK (CBSMiami) – A disabled man who disappeared nearly a week ago from a West Park home has been found safe.

Family members said the last time they saw Junior Encarnacion, 40, was Thursday, February 13th at a home he shared with his mother at 5400 SW 36th Street. Encarnacion is unable to hear or speak and suffers from hypertension.

Over the weekend, they made an impassioned plea to the public for their help in finding him.

"He's deaf. He can't hear. He can't talk. He's only been in the country for about 3 months he hasn't adapted well. It's a tough situation for him. He's 40-years old but he has the mentality of a 10-year old, completely harmless," said his brother Josue Encarnacion.

The family passed out fliers and putting out the word on social media after some tips came in that he may have been spotted near Pembroke Pines. The family began searching there.

On Monday, he was reportedly spotted at a Home Depot in Hialeah assisting customers load their cars.

On Wednesday, a family friend was on her way to work when she spotted a man sitting on a bench at 1100 NE 163rd Street and thought something looked very familiar about him. When she went up to him and tapped his shoulder, the man got up and gave her a big hug. She then took a picture of him with her cell phone, sent it to Encarnacion's sister who confirmed it was Junior. She then drove him home where he was reunited with his family.