Missing Cupertino teen was camped out at school

CUPERTINO, Calif. (KGO) -- A Cupertino teenager is back home after he disappeared for four days. Sheriff's deputies say the boy had been camping out at his school the entire time, which is only about a five minute drive from his house.

The 17-year-old disappeared from school Monday morning after his first period class at Monta Vista High School. He returned home on Thursday night by choice, no search teams ever found him. He

It turns out he didn't go far. Officials say he ventured out to the Fremont Older Open Space, which is a little over two miles from there, and slept under the bleachers at his school.

Sullivan told deputies he ate fruits off trees, drank water from drinking fountains, and used a porta potty located on campus.

Meanwhile, hundreds of searchers and volunteers spent the past four days scouring the city. They searched trails and neighborhoods and passed out flyers to find him.

Sullivan told investigators he made a spontaneous decision to run away and turned off his cellphone. The teenager admitted school has been stressful, but that that is not the reason he made this choice.

ABC7 News spoke with district officials on the phone. They would not go on camera for an interview, but did say they're all relieved Sullivan is safe.