By Steve Klamkin WPRO News

A Providence boy reported missing by his family on Christmas night was found Tuesday in a car, parked behind a house just a few blocks from his home in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood and taken to a hospital for evaluation.

Erwin Rivera Ochoa, 11, was reported missing by his family at about 2:40 A.M. Sunday, a few hours after he went missing from his home on Atwells Avenue and the family conducted a preliminary search, according to Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare.

Monday morning, police issued a statement along with family photographs asking for the public’s help to find him.

He was found at about 12:30 Tuesday afternoon in a car parked behind 14 Joslin Street by a person who called 911, Pare said. A responding officer found the boy inside the car.

“Thankfully, the child was just found safe and sound,” said Mayor Jorge Elorza at the scene. “He was transported over to Hasbro Children’s Hospital. His mother is joining him there.”

“He spent three nights outside. At least so far, this is about as good as we could hope for in a situation like this,” Elorza said.

“We spoke to him, he looked to be in good health,” said Pare, who added the boy was found in the front seat of the car. He added that the boy had some snacks that he’d taken after leaving his home, and that detectives would investigate where the boy spent three days.