Wal-Mart workers find teen living in Texas store

ByABC7.com staff KABC logo
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Wal-Mart workers find teen living in store
Workers at a Wal-Mart in Corsicana, Texas, discovered that a 14-year-old boy had been living inside the store.

CORSICANA, Texas (KABC) -- Workers at a Wal-Mart in Corsicana, Texas, discovered that a 14-year-old boy had been living inside the store.

The teen avoided detection for at least three days by hiding out in two secret compounds he'd built. One of them was behind boxes of strollers, and the other was behind stacks of paper towels and toilet paper.

Officials say the boy survived by eating food off the shelves. He was so concerned about being caught that he wore diapers instead of using the store restroom.

He even had a pet: a fish he took from the pet department.

A trash trail led to the teen's discovery at the 24-hour store on July 30. Police responded to the scene and released the boy to the custody of relatives.

Authorities say the boy lives with his parents in Rice, Texas, but he was temporarily staying with his aunt while his parents were out of town. The boy's mother told police he had a history of running away.

There are no indications that Wal-Mart plans to press charges.

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