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Family: Kidnapped boy safe after 'extremely traumatic day'

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PARRISH, Florida (CNN) -- The family of a 13-year-old kidnap victim thanked everyone involved in his search Friday after police said he freed himself from his bonds and called for help.

The same day that Clay Moore was abducted at gunpoint at a school bus stop, his family said in a written statement they were "very happy he is safe and back home," following the teen's terrible ordeal.

A male abductor, still at large, left Clay alone and bound in a wooded area where the boy was able to free himself and walk a "considerable distance," according to Manatee County Sheriff Charlie Wells.

He then borrowed a farm worker's cell phone to call his mother, Wells said. (Watch Wells explain how Clay was kidnapped )

The family statement, released late Friday, said, "We ask that everyone will work together to help locate the individual responsible so he can't do this to someone else."

The message thanked police and others involved in the investigation and "everyone for their prayers and support." The statement also asked the news media for privacy as "we spend time with Clay after this extremely traumatic day."

Clay's uncle, Greg Moore said, "We're very relieved to have Clay back."

A manhunt continued for the suspect, who police described as being either Hispanic or white, about 5 feet, 8 inches tall with a medium build. Police said he was believed to be driving a metallic red, older-model pickup truck.

Sheriff: 'It all seems evil to me'

Asked about the kidnapper's motive, Wells said, "I can't see any good intentions involved. It all seems evil to me, no matter what he was plotting."

Clay was found about 20 to 30 miles from where he was last seen, in the remote eastern part of Manatee County, Wells said. The teen was bound and left in the woods for a couple of hours.

"I think he spent some time there wondering if he should try to escape or not" out of fear of the suspect returning, Wells said. The boy worked himself free and walked for a while in the "desolate" area before he found a farm worker willing to lend him a cell phone. Clay called his mother about 1:30 p.m., Wells said.

Although it took a while, deputies were able to trace his location from that call, he said. "He didn't really know exactly where he was."

Earlier Friday, authorities issued an Amber Alert for Clay, saying he had been abducted at gunpoint from a Parrish bus stop in front of other children about 9 a.m. In an exchange of words before he was forced into a vehicle, Clay told the man, "'Sir, I don't know you,'" Wells said.

"There's no doubt about it," said the sheriff. "He was taken against his will, he was taken at gunpoint, he was forced into that vehicle."

Parrish is about 25 miles south of Tampa. (Watch Wells explain how police found the boy )

Clay has minor scratches, but Wells said he couldn't be sure where those came from.

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