Teenager found after 13 years asked to be 'left alone'

A teenager who solved his own missing persons case is requesting privacy

Julian Hernandez was found after being missing for 13 years (ABC/Youtube)

A teenager who disappeared as a five-year-old in Alabama 13 years ago is now pleading to be treated as a "normal 18 year old."

Julian Hernandez, a high school student in Cleveland, released a statement amid recent revelations that he isn't who he thought he was.

"At this point I just simply want to be normal!" Julian Hernandez said in a statement provided by the FBI. "I want to go through my day like I did before this week, just being a normal 18 year old."

"I have goals that I am striving to meet, so please, again, respect my request for privacy," he added. "I just want to be left alone."

The discovery was made when he started his college application process and couldn't validate his Social Security number. Upon further investigation he was then found on a database for missing children.

Julian’s mother reported her son missing in 2002 after his father, Bobby Hernandez, was supposed to take him to preschool but instead withdrew money from his bank account and fled.

Authorities this week said the case has remained open over the years, and they received hundreds of tips but nothing materialised.

Mr Hernandez, remains jailed in Cuyahoga County and his lawyer Ralph DeFranco told ABC News his client "absolutely" feels remorse.