EXETER — In what Police Chief Bill Shupe called a "multi-state" effort Wednesday, authorities successfully located a 17-year-old Phillips Exeter Academy student who went missing early Tuesday evening.

Jed Breen was found safe in Hartford, Connecticut, and reunited with his family Wednesday, nearly 24 hours after he was last seen.

"We'd definitely like to report some happy news... Jed has been returned to his family," Shupe said during an early evening press conference Wednesday. "The team I have standing behind me is the team that got it done."

Shupe described Breen as a runaway situation and said he was found through emails he was sending to his parents. He said authorities found his location via an IP address, and speculated Breen had used a public computer. Earlier Wednesday, authorities were searching a trail network behind the PEA stadium off of Chadwick Lane. Breen is an avid cross-country runner.

Exeter police said Breen had fled on foot from Exeter Hospital, where he was being treated for dehydration, at approximately 5:03 p.m. Tuesday. He was last seen taking a left from Gilman Lane toward the PEA trails.

Shupe called the IT work during the investigation "crucial," as it allowed authorities to hammer down an IP address in Hartford. Shupe thanked the community, media, his team and the other agencies for their efforts over the last two days.

Breen's family released a statement saying, "We are so relieved and grateful that Jed has been located. We want to thank the community and all the law enforcement agencies that were involved in a coordinated effort to locate Jed, including the Phillips Exeter Academy Campus Safety, state police, Exeter police, Hartford (Connecticut) police and the FBI. We also want to thank all the volunteers who helped search for him. Jed is now safe with family members. Going forward we want to provide him all the support he needs. We're asking others to give him privacy as we all regroup after a difficult 24 hours."

At this time, Shupe said, it is unknown how Breen got from Exeter to Connecticut.

Phillips Exeter Principal Lisa MacFarlane as well as other faculty members had been on scene Wednesday morning involved in the search party.

"We are delighted and relieved to be able to share that Jed Breen has been found safe," PEA's statement said. "We thank everyone in the community for the care and concern and hope that you'll be able to respect the privacy of the student and his family during this time."

Involved in Wednesday's search were Exeter police and fire, state police, New Hampshire Fish and Game, Phillips Exeter personnel and many volunteers.