Our community breathed a collective sigh of relief early Sunday morning when Joel Medina, a 17-year-old autistic teen from Egg Harbor Township, was found safe after disappearing Friday afternoon.
Joel, who functions at a much younger developmental level, went missing around 3 p.m. on Friday, March 20, 2026. What followed was an extraordinary display of community solidarity and professional coordination that spanned nearly 36 hours and involved dozens of agencies working toward a single goal: bringing Joel home.
The breakthrough came in the early morning hours of March 22, when aerial assets equipped with forward-looking infrared technology—known as FLIR—detected Joel in difficult terrain near Fourth Street and West Jersey Avenue behind the Shore Mall. The heavily wooded area presented significant challenges for rescue teams, but that didn't slow their determination.
"Multiple Egg Harbor Township police officers, detectives, New Jersey State Police K-9 teams and FBI personnel navigated difficult terrain to safely reach and recover him," said township Police Captain Michael Finnerty. "He was escorted out of the same terrain, which came with many challenges and reunited with family as he was treated by Egg Harbor Township EMS."
The search effort was nothing short of remarkable in its scope and coordination. While professional search teams combed through wooded areas, our neighbors took to the streets with prayers and organized their own search parties. It's moments like these that remind us what it means to be part of a caring community.
The list of agencies that contributed to Joel's safe recovery reads like a roll call of regional emergency response: Egg Harbor Township Police Department's Patrol Division, Detective Bureau, K-9 and Communications units, the FBI, Atlantic County Office of Emergency Management, Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, township EMS, New Jersey State Office of Emergency Management, NJSP K-9 Units, K-9 officers from Atlantic and Cape May County Sheriff's Offices, NJSP Aviation Unit, U.S. Coast Guard Aviation, and search-and-rescue teams from Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Camden, and Gloucester counties.
Additional support came from the NJSP Missing Persons Unit, Atlantic County Dive Team, NJSP Emergency Response Bureau, AtlantiCare EMS, and Cape May County Mounted Patrol Unit. Each agency brought specialized skills and equipment to the operation, working seamlessly despite challenging conditions.
Captain Finnerty emphasized the collaborative nature of the successful outcome: "This successful outcome was the result of an extraordinary, unified effort at every level—community-wide, county-wide, state-wide and federal. All involved shared one mission and one goal: to locate Joel safe, sound and reunite him with his family."
He also extended special recognition to the staff at Atlantic County Special Services School for their unwavering support throughout the ordeal. The school's involvement highlights the tight-knit relationships that exist between our educational institutions and the families they serve.
The department expressed deep gratitude to all who participated, praising the "unwavering commitment, professionalism and perseverance" displayed by personnel who remained resolute despite difficult conditions.
"This outcome reflects the strength of collaboration, the power of community, and the relentless dedication of those who serve," Finnerty said. "The support from the public, our partner agencies and volunteers was instrumental in bringing this incident to a safe and positive conclusion."
As Joel recovers at home with his family, this incident serves as a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together. From high-tech aerial surveillance to boots on the ground, from professional first responders to concerned neighbors, everyone played a vital role in this happy ending.
In Captain Finnerty's words: "This is truly a happy ending, and we are grateful that Joel has been reunited with his family."
