A missing autistic boy was discovered.
According to CBS Miami, Jorge “Jojo” Morales, a young boy with autism who was kidnapped in late August allegedly by his father and grandmother, has been found safe in Canada.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have arrested Jorge Gabriel Morales and Lilliam Pena Morales. The boy was reported to be unharmed and in good health.
Miami-Dade Police Director Freddy Ramirez described the incident as “another example of local, state, federal, and international law enforcement, as well as the United States and State Attorney’s Office coming together for the safety of a child, and [we] will continue to work together to fight the greater evil.”
According to investigators, JoJo was picked up by his paternal grandmother in accordance with a court timesharing order from his home in the city of Homestead. The father failed to return him, violating the court order, and Jojo’s mother contacted police to report the incident.
Missing Person detectives were notified and began an investigation. A Missing Persons Alert was initiated, and investigators began following leads. Later, an arrest warrant was issued for the father.
Jojo’s mother, Yanet Leal Concepcion, told CBS Miami she’s “just so happy rite now. I can’t even think that I went through such a hard time.
” … I thought my son was gonna die. It was very hard to sleep. It was very hard to eat. All I could think about was him. What was he doing. If he was OK. If he was asking for his mom.”
According to Leal Concepcion, Jojo was spotted in a Walmart.
“I’m just grateful that I can share a happy ending because I know that a lot of moms out there don’t get this happy ending and I do.”
The first trip she plans to take with Jojo will be on a Disney cruise, which she says Jojo has wanted to go on for a long time but his father won’t let him go on.