I don't think it has been said that 'he would leave overnight often', but rather that it has happened before, and more than once (which doesn't necessarily equate to 'often', imo). We also don't know if he let his parents know where he was at during those other times. Imho, the only reason it is mentioned is because it is an important piece of information that parents and police will consider when evaluating the perceived risk that HD may have been subject to at that time.What I cannot wrap my head around is they didn't often know where he was that he'd leave overnight often. He didn't text/call ask permission first or at least tell them where he was going or at? He is still a minor so knowing where your minor teen is should be top priority for a parent, correct?
Because he *had* done this in the past, his situation would have been evaluated differently than for a child who had *never* done this before, or a much younger child, etc. The parents knew their child well enough to know that he wouldn't have 'run away from home', however they did know that it wasn't out of the realm of possibility that he may have stayed with a friend because he was reportedly PO'd about his phone not being replaced immediately when it was broken.
My youngest boy did this as well a couple of times when he was in grade nine, and I used to try to get it through to him that in doing so, (aside from making me sick with worry) police and others would be less likely to take it seriously in a timely enough manner if he ever DID run into *real* trouble and really did become 'missing' at some point. It seems that HD did have a grasp of the relationship between actions and consequences, however sometimes some of his wants and needs overtook his common sense in the moment (impulsivity is very common in kids with ADHD, imo).
His inner struggle is clearly witnessed in his 'I'm Scared' youtube video, when he laments about the decisions he'd made in having chosen to stay outside instead of going with his mom as requested to pick up a friend (3:50). At one point, you can see the struggle within when he says, 'no I'm not gonna do it, I'm not gonna do it'.. (around 5:36 - I believe he was referring to asking for likes and 'subs' at the time - again jmo).