A runaway teen secretly lived in a hidden toilet paper fort inside a Walmart store for several days without anyone noticing the unusual setup.
16-year-old boy named Christopher Dunham recently made headlines after hiding in a Walmart store for several days.
This unusual story began when he ran away from his grandparents’ home in Grove, Oklahoma.
The teen’s parents report his missing to the police
Christopher was reported missing by his grandparents on a Sunday.
They were concerned when he vanished without a trace.
The police began searching for him, but the investigation faced challenges.
His grandparents were not very helpful, as they did not want his picture shared due to “extended family issues.”
This made it harder for authorities to locate him.
As the days passed, there were no signs of Christopher.
The police worked diligently, trying to gather information from the family and the community.
However, the lack of cooperation from the grandparents slowed down the efforts.
‘They weren’t very cooperative,’ Grove Police Chief Mark Morris said.
Oklahoma runaway teen secretly lives inside toilet paper fort in middle of Walmart for days without being noticed
While Christopher was missing, he found a unique hiding spot. He built a fort made of toilet paper in the Walmart store.
Using the toilet paper aisle, he created a cozy space where he could sleep.
He even found a dog bed to make his stay more comfortable.
For several days, he managed to stay hidden from both customers and employees.
It was a clever but risky choice for the teenager, as he had to be cautious not to draw attention to himself.
The runaway teen attempted to sneak back home.
The situation escalated when Christopher tried sneaking back into his grandparents’ house after a police search.
Officers had come to search for him, and Christopher’s arrival coincided with their departure.
This raised suspicions that he may have been observing the house during the investigation.
After his grandparents were notified of his presence, they brought him to the police station.
There, Christopher recounted his days hiding in Walmart.
He explained how he survived and why he decided to run away.
Police responded to the unusual incident
Grove Police Chief Mark Morris called this case one of the most bizarre he had encountered in his career.
He expressed concern for Christopher’s well-being and the difficulties faced during the search.
The police had to obtain a search warrant to enter the grandparents’ home after being denied entry initially.
During the search, officers looked for evidence and seized several items, including electronics and cameras.
Christopher was found to have minor injuries, including possible frostbite on his toes.
It was unclear whether this was due to his time in Walmart or previous incidents.
‘This is one of the most bizarre cases in my law enforcement career,’ Morris said.
Neighbors expressed worries about Christopher’s safety.
The community had also expressed concern about Christopher’s situation before he was found.
Neighbors had reported worrying incidents involving the teenager and his grandparents.
Some neighbors recalled a time when Christopher was locked out of the house during cold rain, causing him distress.
They heard him crying and begging to be let back inside. This raised alarms about the environment he was living in.
Now that Christopher has been found, authorities are looking into the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
A representative from the Department of Human Services will meet with him to discuss his situation further.
The police are also continuing to investigate the family dynamics and any potential issues that may have led to his decision to run away.