The parents of a 12-year-old boy who went missing Dec. 19 at Music City Mall were able to celebrate Christmas with him after he returned home Wednesday, according to his sister.

Cpl. Jamie Brown with the Odessa Police Department said Joe Hernandez's parents called to tell them they found the boy safe and sound Wednesday at a friend's house. Joe's sister Daniela Hernandez said a woman called her family to tell them where he was.

"He had been there since Friday," Daniela Hernandez said. "Her (Joe's friend's) mom didn't think it was a big deal."

Joe was reunited with the family Christmas Eve and spent the next day together, Daniela Hernandez said.