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Aurora Teen Missing At Indiana Dunes Found Safe

UPDATED 07/23/12 - 1:07 p.m.

PORTAGE, Ind. (CBS) -- An Aurora man who had been reported missing at the Indiana Dunes has been found safe.

Juan Tovar, 18, had been reported missing Sunday afternoon, after he had told friends he was going for a walk at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and headed for the lake near Portage, Ind. When he wasn't seen again for a few hours, his friends reported him missing and emergency crews began an extensive ground search on Sunday.

Authorities said Tovar was found safe Monday morning near the Merrillville and Schererville areas, which are not along the lakefront. Officials with the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore were seeking to interview him to determine exactly what happened.

Divers had spent Sunday afternoon and evening searching for Tovar in the water, but because the lake was calm on both Sunday and Monday, authorities had said they were fairly certain he was in the water.

CBS 2's Kris Habermehl points out that someone on land in the dunes can walk a long way, and not encounter anyone.

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