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Parents warned as police search for Florida kidnapper

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PARRISH, Florida (CNN) -- Police warned parents to closely watch their children Saturday as authorities searched for the kidnapper of a 13-year-old boy.

The teen, Clay Moore, was safe at home after being abducted at gunpoint Friday from a Parrish, Florida, school bus stop. Clay later reportedly used a safety pin to escape from a field where he had been left bound and alone.

Dave Bristow of the Manatee County Sheriff's Department warned parents in the area, south of Tampa, to watch their children carefully and report anything suspicious to police.

Although Bristow said authorities are "extremely concerned," he cautioned parents not to panic.

The Sarasota, Florida, Herald-Tribune reported that Clay's aunt, Lisa Rumsey, said her nephew was visibly disturbed by his ordeal, but doesn't appear to be physically harmed. (Watch police explain how Clay was kidnapped )

The teen was abducted at gunpoint by a man driving a red pickup truck, who forced Clay into the vehicle in front of other children, police said.

Police told Clay's family the kidnapper bound the boy's hands and feet with tape, shoved a sock in his mouth and then taped his mouth, Rumsey told the newspaper.

The abductor drove Clay to a field and tied him to a tree, where, later, he escaped by cutting the tape with a safety pin he had on his sleeve, according to the Herald-Tribune.

Clay then walked a "considerable distance," until he encountered a farm worker who let the teen use a cell phone to call his mother, police said.

"God watched over him and brought him back to us," Rumsey told the newspaper. (Watch sheriff explain how police found the boy )

Police release drawing of suspect

Police released a sketch of the suspect. Bristow said authorities are about "90 percent sure" the man is Hispanic, but he also could be white.

The suspect is believed to be in his 30s; about 5 feet, 7 inches tall with a medium build. Asked whether the boy was able to describe the man's voice, Bristow said, "Unfortunately, they didn't talk a whole lot, so he didn't get a whole lot on that. They were only together probably a half an hour."

The vehicle the suspect used to drive Clay to a remote area was described as a dark red, metallic, four-door pickup with a blue cloth interior and a faded yellow or white pinstripe down the middle of the exterior, said Bristow.

He said it apparently was an older-model truck, perhaps 1980s.

"The car description still is probably the best thing we have to go on," Bristow told CNN.

'Extremely traumatic day'

In a written statement, Clay's family said they were "very happy he is safe and back home."

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."

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