Man Who Survived Without Chemo: 'I'd Still Fight'

May 23, 2009 — -- Billy Best ran away from home in Norwell, Mass., in 1994 to avoid chemotherapy, and today he offered conflicting words of support and opposition to Daniel and Colleen Hauser. The mother and son, who are from Minnesota, are now part of an international police search after they fled a judge's court-ordered chemotherapy Monday for Daniel.

Jason Seidl, chief deputy at the Brown County Sheriff's office in Minnesota, affirmed Saturday that the pair last were spotted near the Tijuana-California border. However Seidle said it's unknown whether they actually crossed the border into Mexico.

"They're avoiding a court order, which is against the law, so they shouldn't do that," Best told ABC's "Good Morning America." "But it's also a mother who's looking out for her family. You know, somewhere in between there's an answer."

Best eventually returned home where authorities allowed him to pursue his choice of alternative treatments.

"I ran away because I believe the chemo was poisoning me and it would kill me before it cured me," said Best.

In the past Best claimed that roots, Indian rhubarb and slippery elm helped him stay cancer-free, but told "GMA" on Saturday he "used something called 714-X."

"That's not an issue here," said Best, who instead critiqued the widely circulated statistic that Daniel Hauser's cancer would have 90 percent cure rate with chemotherapy.

When asked whether he would help the family if they contacted him, Best said he would.

"I would because it's something that's so close to me," he said. "It's been, almost, 15 years and to see today someone fighting for those same -- freedoms. I thought we were past that."

"I'd fight. I'd fight for that freedom," he said.

Best was 16 when he fled to Houston to escape treatment for Hodgkin's disease, according to The Associated Press. He returned home only after his parents promised that they would not force him to have the treatments.

Late Wednesday, the AP reported that Best denied he was with Hauser and her son, saying that he had not spoken to them since they fled.

As of Saturday the Hausers are still on the run instead of fighting the Minnesota courts.

Search For Cancer-Ridden Teen Goes International

The U.S. Attorney's office and the FBI filed federal criminal charges Friday against Colleen Janet Hauser for fleeing with her son Daniel to avoid giving him chemotherapy for his cancer.

The federal criminal complaint notes that Hauser and her son flew on Sun Country Airlines from Minnesota to Los Angeles May 19, 2009, and their current whereabouts are unknown. The felony charge is fleeing from the state of Minnesota to avoid prosecution for deprivation of parental rights.

The case has now become an international manhunt with Interpol being notified and U.S. Marshals being deployed to Mexico from the San Diego Field Office and the U.S. Embassy in Mexico. According to one source, the marshals and Mexican law enforcement officers were in Tijuana looking for Hauser and her son.

"I can confirm U.S. Marshals are assisting Minnesota authorities," U.S. Marshals spokesman Jeffrey Carter told ABC News. "We have deputy marshals in Mexico now and are working with Mexican authorities to follow up on several leads."

Earlier, the father of the Minnesota teenager made a desparate plea for his son to return with his mother for court-ordered cancer chemotherapy treatment .

Authorities said they believe Hauser and her 13-year-old son, Daniel, may be in Mexico -- or trying to get there -- to seek alternative treatments for the teen who suffers from Hodgkin's lymphoma.

"We're looking for a hopeful resolution, it's all about Daniel," said Jason Seidl, chief deputy at the Brown County Sheriff's office.

Seidl declined to comment on whether Colleen and Daniel had been spotted and again urged anyone who thinks they may have information that could lead to their discovery to immediately contact the police.

Late Thursday afternoon, Anthony Hauser made an emotional appeal to his wife to return home with their sick son.

"This is for you Colleen if you're out there," Hauser said from his farm in Sleepy Eye, Minn., to his missing wife. "Please bring Danny home so we can decide as a family what Danny's treatment should be.

"I know you're scared and I feel that you left out of fear, maybe without thinking it all the way through," said Hauser.

"Danny is my son and the rest of the family is worried sick about how he is," Hauser said. "Please call me and let's talk about how we can work this out."

Hauser repeated, "Please give me a call."

Brown County Sheriff Rich Hoffman also spoke at Thursday's press conference, pleading with Colleen to return to Minnesota.

"We're all working to the same end, to make sure Danny is back home and safe," said Hoffman. "I'm asking you to contact us to arrange your safe return."

"We will not take an enforcement action if you've shown a good faith effort to come back," said Hoffman.

"We are concerned other individuals are going to use this incident as a mean to forward their own agendas which might not be in Danny's best interest," he said.

Colleen and Daniel Hauser were last spotted in Southern California Tuesday morning, according to the Brown County Sheriff's office, who said it was "reliable information" that has led them to believe the duo is heading to Mexico to seek alternative cancer treatment.

Colleen Hauser and Daniel disappeared after a court rejected the boy's request to refuse chemotherapy treatment for his Hodgkin's lymphoma disease. Doctors believe Daniel will die without the treatment.

The Hausers have said that they would prefer a less rigid chemotherapy treatment combined with other alternative treatments.

The family is Roman Catholic and believes in the "do no harm" philosophy of the Nemenhah Band, a Missouri-based religious group that believes in natural healing methods.

The warrant for deprivation of parental rights will ensure extradition to Minnesota if she is apprehended, according to police.

Authorities said the fugitives do not own a car and don't believe they could have left Sleepy Eye without help. They say they are following "any and all leads" and have been receiving tips from across the country.

Hoffman said that authorities do not have a specific vehicle they are looking for.

Cancer-Stricken Son and Mom Flee

Colleen Hauser's husband, Anthony, said that he believes his wife saw X-rays of Daniel that made her scared and prompted her to flee, missing a court appearance Tuesday.

Hauser has been cooperating with police, but Hoffman declined to speculate on the "sincerity of the information."

Daniel's name has been added to the database of the national Missing and Exploited Children's Network, said Hoffman, who hopes the move will help spot the teen if he attempts to cross a border.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.