Father of teen who's been missing for a month arrested buying one-way ticket to NZ

Bruce Jorgensen, left, was arrested at Miami International Airport. His 16-year-old son, Aage, right, has been missing since late December.

The father of a 16-year-old Florida boy who has been missing for more than a month was arrested at Miami International Airport after purchasing a one-way ticket to New Zealand.

Bruce Jorgensen, 58, was taken into custody and charged with unlawful desertion of a child.

The man's son, Aage Jorgensen, was last seen on December 27 when his father allegedly forced him out of his car in the Fort Lauderdale suburb of Sunrise for being disrespectful.

Police said earlier that Jorgensen has been uncooperative with the investigation and never filed a missing person report.

They only learned of Aage's disappearance on January 9 after Bruce Jorgensen was spotted handing out 'missing' flyers around town.

In a press release put out after the father's arrest Tuesday, Plantation police said foul play is not suspected at this time.

Detective Philip Toman said Aage, a student at American Heritage School, has a history of running away from home, and police suspect he may be hiding in Broward County, reported the Sun-Sentinel.

Kristen Lake, a long-time friend of Bruce Jorgensen's, told CBS Miami the father and son moved to Plantation in the summer of 2015 so Aage could play tennis there.

Jorgensen has been raising Aage on his own and was said to be estranged from the rest of his family.

CBS reported that the 58-year-old has been paying in cash for most things, including thousands of dollars in rent and private school tuition for Aage.

Jorgensen withdrew his son from American Heritage School after the winter break.

When interviewed by police, the father said that he kicked his son out of his car while driving along Northwest 136th Avenue in Sunrise on December 27 because the boy was being rude to him.

A woman later told police that on that day, she was approached by the teen asking her for a ride.

The elder Jorgensen had his initial court appearance Wednesday and was ordered held without bond.

Aage Jorgensen is described as 5-foot-9, weighing 140lbs, with short brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a peach-colored Adidas T-shirt, white cargo shorts and flips flops.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is being asked to call police at 954-797-2100.

- Daily Mail