EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WFRV) – The missing Wisconsin 16-year-old who went missing last week has been located, authorities announced.
Just after 12 a.m. Saturday, Eau Claire police released a statement on Facebook saying that the teen has been found safe.
“We can always count on Eau Claire,” the message says. “We thank our residents and the numerous agencies that assisted us in finding Colin.”
The teen was last seen on Wednesday after leaving a note to his family stating his intentions to leave his residence voluntarily.
According to the Eau Claire Police Department, on April 17, the teen’s parents contacted police after the 16-year-old had not gone to school or returned home.
During the investigation, it was discovered that the teen left a note stating his intention to leave home voluntarily. His parents say this behavior is uncharacteristic, and they are also concerned about recent statements he made about the stress he was experiencing.
The teen was seen on video surveillance leaving his residence in the 2200 block of Windsong Court alone on his bicycle shortly before 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
Additionally, he was seen on business security cameras on American Boulevard heading east.
As a part of this investigation, the Eau Claire Police Department utilized many avenues to bring Colin home safely. These include interviews of friends and family, repeated phone pings, searches of social media accounts, reviewing business security surveillance video, drone searches with thermal imaging, and public assistance messaging.
After a review of public safety cameras, the teen was seen on April 17 using the bike trail to travel through Eau Claire. The area where he was last observed on camera was on the Chippewa River State Bike Trail along North Hastings Way near Hogarth Street. He was riding alone north toward the Village of Lake Hallie.
Image of Colin Robaidek on April 17 at around 1:00 p.m. (Eau Claire Police Department) 
Image of Colin Robaidek on April 17, 2024. (Eau Claire Police Department) 
Style of backpack Colin Robaidek is carrying. (Eau Claire Police Department) 
Type of bicycle Colin Robaidek is on. (Eau Claire Police Department)
Wings of Hope has assisted in advanced searches of Eau Claire County bike trails, wooded areas, and waters. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Office, Altoona Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, Northstar Search and Rescue, and the Eau Claire Area School District are also assisting in these efforts.
Police say additional efforts will include canine tracking with assistance from Northstar Search and Rescue, aerial observation from a Wisconsin State Patrol air unit, continued drone searches, and further review of social media accounts.
“We are aware of numerous residents and neighborhood associations offering assistance with search efforts,” said the Eau Claire Police Department. “We are thankful for public support. At this time, there is no specific geographic area to focus on, so we ask all community members to be vigilant and report information.”
The Eau Claire Police Department continued to say that residents can help by reviewing home security videos. Additionally, residents are asked to respect others’ private property if they organize a search party in their neighborhoods. Never search alone; carry a phone; be cautious when conducting searches, as safety is critical.