Teen missing for 4 days was hiding at school, eating fruit

A 17-year-old boy missing for nearly four days returned to his Cupertino home Thursday, telling his family that he hid on his high school campus, drank from the water fountain and ate fruit from trees, authorities said.

No explanation was immediately given by the Santa Clara County sheriff’s office as to why the teen voluntarily went missing or why searchers apparently did not realize he had been spending time at Monta Vista High School in Cupertino.

The boy was last seen by his family at 7 a.m. Monday before he left for school. The boy went to his first-period class and missed his remaining classes as well as his track practice.

Deputies and search and rescue crews had searched the school, shopping centers and local parks and contacted area hospitals. His parents publicly pleaded for him to return home.

In a statement Friday, the boy’s parents thanked friends, family and emergency responders for their search efforts.

They said they had been serving up their son’s favorite pizza, which was brought to their home by friends, and “saying how much we wished (their son) was here, when we heard the front door being unlocked” on Thursday night.

“We all looked at each other and realized it could only have been one person unlocking the door,” the statement said.

“We can tell everyone that (their son) has expressed the deepest sorrow and regret for his actions. He sees how his actions have impacted others around him and understands there is no excuse for the concern and worry he has caused.”

Henry K. Lee is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: hlee@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @henryklee