Third autistic person missing in central Florida this week

Stream FOX 35:

FLAGLER COUNTY, FL. – A 59-year-old autistic man was reported missing Friday morning in Flagler County.

Stephen Phillips was last seen at Houligan's Palm Coast, a sports bar on Plaza Drive, according to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office. He may also have been last seen at the beach around 7:45 a.m. Thursday.

“He allegedly made statements indicating he was saying goodbye,” the sheriff’s office said.

Phillips, a 5-foot-8 white man, was last seen wearing a Houligan hat, a green Houligan shirt and jeans.

Anyone with information on Phillips' whereabouts is asked to contact the Flagler County Sheriff's Office at 386-313-4911.

This is the third autistic person reported missing this week.

Earlier this week, a 16-year-old autistic boy was reported missing in Sumter County, but was later found up to his neck in a body of water near the Withlacoochee River.

A 7-year-old autistic girl was also reported missing from her home in Palm Bay, but was found minutes later by her mother despite an ongoing three-hour police search. The girl's mother has since been arrested for providing false information to law enforcement during an investigation, among other charges.