After going missing almost three years ago, 17-year-old Omar Dennis brought surprise and joy to his family this week when he suddenly returned home.

"Mi just thank God him alive and come back home safe," Rhona Henry, the boy's mother, told The Gleaner yesterday as tears filled her eyes.

More than 700 children were reported missing last year. Of this number, the authorities say at least 500 have returned home.

Police officials were, however, unable to comment on whether the return of a missing child after such a lengthy period was a frequent or rare occurrence.

In 2007, THE STAR, in collaboration with the Jamaica Constabulary Force, began a series on missing persons, which sought public assistance in finding them.

Omar, who has a learning disability and went missing in May 2006, was one of the first persons featured in the series.

The 40-year-old mother of two said she was at home preparing her dinner when she received news that her son had turned up at his father's, Fendley Dennis, house in Allman Town. Henry said she immediately dropped what she was doing to attend to her long-lost son.

"Mi never even did feel hungry again," she said. "Mi did just happy fi know that mi son come home."

Henry said Omar has told her several stories about his whereabouts during the three years, but she planned to take him to the doctor for a full check-up.

When Omar went missing in 2004, Henry said she had reported his disappearance to the Stony Hill Police Station. Since his return home on Wednesday, she said she has called the police to inform them of his safe return. The station was unable to confirm whether the report had been filed.

Omar's father said he knew his son would one day return home.

"Mi know one day I would see him," the elder Dennis said.

He said that, prior to his disappearance, Omar had a tendency to slip out of the house in the early hours of the morning. He added that measures would have to be put in place to prevent him from running off again.

Omar has run away from home on more than 10 occasions, but his parents said three years was the longest he had ever gone missing.

The teenager first ran away from home when he was 12 years old.

"He seems to have a wandering spirit," Henry said. However, she is convinced her son will never run off again.

"Mi nuh think him a leave again. He told me he missed us," she said.

(Jamaica Gleaner)