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JETERSVILLE, Va. – A 13-year-old Virginia boy apparently loaded his family's pickup truck with food, clothes and his dog, hitched up a trailer with two horses in tow and drove nearly 1,300 miles to Texas, police said. The teen's parents found him safe Friday.

Police are unsure why the boy ran away Wednesday morning from his Jetersville-area home. He apparently was well-prepared, even bringing extra propane tanks along.

Wyatt E. McLaughlin was found about 2 p.m. Friday on a rodeo grounds near Weatherford, Texas, where he had performed several times before. His parents looked for him there on a hunch, said Sgt. Tom Cunningham, a Virginia State Police spokesman.

"These all don't turn out well," Cunningham said Friday night. "We're pleased to report the outcome was positive."

Surveillance video from a gas station in Mount Pleasant, Texas, appeared to show the boy pumping gas Thursday into his family's pickup truck. The parents flew to Texas to view the video and believed the boy on the tape was their son, Cunningham said.

"Then (they) took the initiative and went to places they thought the boy may be," Cunningham said.

The rodeo grounds are at least two hours away from the gas station, but "is a place the family had been to on several occasions and Wyatt had participated in rodeos."

Cunningham said he wasn't sure how the family found out about the video but said they made several phone calls to Texas rodeo connections.

The family had no listed telephone number.

...cause I wanna be a cowboy baybeeeee!!!

Industrious kid!

If he loads out like this whats the big deal??? (kidding, I know what the deal is)

I have a niece and nephew who rodeo as well who are younger than this...I just called my sister who announces at these events and they know this kid...He's pretty good from what she says about him...She is not surprised with what he did here...

It was a bad idea for him to take off like that, but you've got to admire a kid with that kind of gumption. He had a goal; he prepared himself to meet that goal; and then he went after the goal. He ought to go far in life.

The Annoyed Man wrote:It was a bad idea for him to take off like that, but you've got to admire a kid with that kind of gumption. He had a goal; he prepared himself to meet that goal; and then he went after the goal. He ought to go far in life.

I have to admire his gumption as well. With that kind of drive and tenacity, I predict he will go far in whatever he does. I just hope he'll be one of the good guys.

Having "drive, gumption and passion" CAN be good things (if properly applied), but let's not overlook the poor decision making involved here either.

He obviously knew he would be found out...so this kid was making a statement. Fortunately... he is still at a malleable age, so a little "guidance" is probably all that is needed to set him on a successful, fruitful path.

I wish him the best.

flintknapper wrote:Having "drive, gumption and passion" CAN be good things (if properly applied), but let's not overlook the poor decision making involved here either.

He obviously knew he would be found out...so this kid was making a statement. Fortunately... he is still at a malleable age, so a little "guidance" is probably all that is needed to set him on a successful, fruitful path.

I wish him the best.

Absolutely! If he were my son he would need all that drive, passion, etc., to relieve the stinging sensation in his hind parts from the belt for stealing the family vehicle, livestock, and (I'm speculating here because he's 13 and that's an expensive trip gas wise) money. Not to mention the emotional toil he put on the family until he was found and the money the family had to shell out to go get him.

I do understand what the posters above are saying so I am not trying to be argumentative and I do hope this is his only statement and misuse of his desire. At 13 he can still be saved and taught to use better judgement. Hope he does.

I fmy 12 yr old niece can load up and do the same things this kid did...

All she needs is the keys...She knows how to use the card (in the truck), for gas, food etc etc...

I think the gumption is common in kids who take responsibility to take care of their animals, go to school, go train for their events after school, do their homework and make the grades to continue to do all of that...

Yes, the judgement call was a little poor to go do all of this himself, but I would not be surprised if my niece ever attempted to do something like this...

I'm sure he'll be back in the saddle again, next weekend; if they are not already staying in Weatherford this weekend...

Heck, we're already here...Might as well...

Would not surprise me a bit...

This story actually gives me a little hope in the younger generation. Yes, the kid made some poor choices (that is why they are not classified as adults).
The kid adequately packed a truck and two horses, drove halfway across the country, made it to the rodeo, competed in several events, etc., with no harm done, and presumably the horses in good condition. That is impressive for a 13 year old.

FlynJay wrote:This story actually gives me a little hope in the younger generation. Yes, the kid made some poor choices (that is why they are not classified as adults).
The kid adequately packed a truck and two horses, drove halfway across the country, made it to the rodeo, competed in several events, etc., with no harm done, and presumably the horses in good condition. That is impressive for a 13 year old.

Would everyone feel the same way if the 13yr. old had fallen asleep at the wheel....had a head on and killed a family of five?

Lots of 13yr. olds have "skills", skills mean nothing without good judgment.

flintknapper wrote:

FlynJay wrote:This story actually gives me a little hope in the younger generation. Yes, the kid made some poor choices (that is why they are not classified as adults).
The kid adequately packed a truck and two horses, drove halfway across the country, made it to the rodeo, competed in several events, etc., with no harm done, and presumably the horses in good condition. That is impressive for a 13 year old.

Would everyone feel the same way if the 13yr. old had fallen asleep at the wheel....had a head on and killed a family of five?

Lots of 13yr. olds have "skills", skills mean nothing without good judgment.

Well that's kinda obvious...

But then again I know of some "kids" who practice better judgement and would perform on the road wayyyyy better than folks our age...

flintknapper wrote:Would everyone feel the same way if the 13yr. old had fallen asleep at the wheel....had a head on and killed a family of five?

If that happened, would it matter if the sleepy driver was 13, 23 or 83?

Greybeard wrote:A 13-year-old Virginia boy apparently loaded his family's pickup truck with food, clothes and his dog, hitched up a trailer with two horses in tow and drove nearly 1,300 miles to Texas, police said. The teen's parents found him safe Friday.
Police are unsure why the boy ran away Wednesday morning from his Jetersville-area home. He apparently was well-prepared, even bringing extra propane tanks along.

I predict this will be made into a TV movie.

boomerang wrote:

flintknapper wrote:Would everyone feel the same way if the 13yr. old had fallen asleep at the wheel....had a head on and killed a family of five?

If that happened, would it matter if the sleepy driver was 13, 23 or 83?

The outcome would be same....however the "point" of this was apparently lost on those more fixated on heralding the skills/"gumption" of this lad, rather than recognizing the foolishness/folly (and unlawfulness) of his actions (read: avoidable).

Clearly certain laws exist for the benefit of the public. This particular 13yr. old may have had driving skills that exceed that of some "seasoned" drivers...but most do not (hence the laws). This 13yr. old may possess better reasoning skills than some folks his senior (but most do not).

This 13yr. old may be capable of taking care of himself... if a crisis should occur (but the smart money says most can not).

This mostly thoughtless act (excepting what the child wanted), should NOT be glorified and held up as an example of his prowess or perceived maturity IMO. I'm sure the kid is basically O.K. and may possess certain skills and talents that will benefit him later in life. But this was a "bone-headed" move on his part, period.

flintknapper wrote:This 13yr. old may be capable of taking care of himself... if a crisis should occur (but the smart money says most can not).

The article did say he had his dog with him. "What is it Lassie? Timmy's stuck in the well??"

I think my kid would be awfully saddle sore after something like this, but you do have to give the kid credit for his initiative. Just glad it all turned out alright.

Keith B wrote:

flintknapper wrote:This 13yr. old may be capable of taking care of himself... if a crisis should occur (but the smart money says most can not).

The article did say he had his dog with him. "What is it Lassie? Timmy's stuck in the well??"

I think my kid would be awfully saddle sore after something like this, but you do have to give the kid credit for his initiative. Just glad it all turned out alright.

Yeah, or "Old Yeller" would be another good example (yes some of are that old).


The kid has "spunk", no denying that.

Of course, the same can be said of quite a few criminals in our jails too.

If he were mine, we would soon have an "understanding" as to what he IS and ISN'T allowed to do.

Like you, I am glad it all turned out alright, that is what allows us to give the kid a little "wink" (a pass).

But it could also have turned into a life changing event (and not in a good way). Kids! You got to love 'em.