BANGOR – A Caribou mother is voicing her gratitude after learning Friday morning that her son, who has been missing since Dec. 2, is alive and well.

Toby LeGassey, 30, was reported safe and surprised at all the trouble he had caused after some of his friends read about his “missing” status in the newspaper and called his family, according to his mother, Leola Murphy.

LeGassey had not contacted his family for two weeks. He was last seen boarding a bus bound for Pennsylvania to see his children. LeGassey said he would call his family when he reached Bangor, but he never made the call. His family became concerned when he did not show up at the appointed time and place in Pennsylvania to meet his children.

Murphy’s fears about her son’s well-being were laid to rest when she received a call at 8 a.m. Friday from one of her son’s friends in Bangor. The woman said LeGassey was staying with friends in the area.

“So it turns out he ran into some friends in Bangor when he got off the bus and he decided to stay in the area instead of continuing his trip,” Murphy said. “He didn’t want anyone to know what he was going to do. That’s why he didn’t call anyone.”

When some of his friends read the story in the Friday edition of the Bangor Daily News, they called the residence where LeGassey was staying to tell him about it. After a friend at the residence read the story, she called Murphy.

Murphy said she was elated when she received the phone call.

“I didn’t know what to say except, ‘Is he safe?'” she said.

Though LeGassey has been located and is safe, Murphy said he is upset because he made everybody worry.

“He figured he was an adult and could do pretty much whatever he wanted to do,” Murphy said. “I think he didn’t realize it would cause this much havoc for his family.”

With the incident over, LeGassey plans to return to Caribou to be with his family.

“This is going to be the best Christmas because he’s coming home and he’s safe,” Murphy said.