That statement is really confusing and frustrating. We have the Sheriff's department saying he had been making plans and left of his own volition. The Help Find Tyler statement says well, he could have left on his own or been taken forcibly, which Sheriff's statement doesn't say or even hint at.
I would think Tyler might have left the area immediately to avoid being found. My first thought was an internet relationship or connection. If he was able to leave the immediate area he could be anywhere with anyone and the people he's with might have no clue he is a runaway. Even a short bus ride away, like in Spokane or Vancouver, for instance, people wouldn't be looking for him. Most teens are very tech savvy and could either cover their online tracks very well or use a public computer at a library, friends house, or something like that.
It all rings more peculiar to me with every statement. I did notice today that just about every stop sign and post had a Find Tyler sign on it.
I read along for years on WS before joining to post. When I did join, the first case I posted on was a missing teen from Oregon. There was a lot of conflicting evidence but she was eventually found to be staying with people in CA who had no idea she was missing and that her father was desperately looking for her (she had run away from mom and step-father). I thought about that case here. That maybe he made friends with someone through a church group correspondence or running club or homeschool pen pal program or the like and is staying somewhere they have no idea he is missing. While Edmonds may be blanketed with flyers, there hasn't been THAT much MSM coverage and their Help group only had 480+ members (more than 30 have left the group since the SD announcement). He could be easily staying somewhere that has not been reached by the search. And just as he could have taken the 113 to the Park & Ride, he could have gone to the ferry as well.