Jorge “JoJo” Morales, a 6-year-old South Florida youngster who had been missing since August, has been located.
Officials reported that the youngster had been found in Canada, over 2,000 miles away from his home in Miami-Dade County, Florida.
The kid was discovered in good health and unhurt, stated Miami-Dade police.
Jojo, an autistic boy, went missing on August 27 when his dad, Jorge Gabriel Martinez, refused to return him to his mom in accordance with a custody arrangement.
Yanet Leal Concepcion, Jojo’s mom, went to her ex-house husband’s after Jojo did not come home in late August. She noticed that it had been well cleaned.
Everything had vanished from his place, she explained. His phones were turned off. His mother’s phone was turned off.
A missing kid warning was issued, as well as a $10,000 reward from the FBI for information leading to Jojo’s whereabouts.
Reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the recovery and safe return of Jorge “Jojo” Morales. Call (754) 703-2000 or https://t.co/xm8ISwpO7q. https://t.co/Zisako6gId He may be in Maine or eastern Canada. pic.twitter.com/53OXgn4gyO
— FBI Miami (@FBIMiamiFL) October 18, 2022
Video surveillance from days following his abduction located Jojo and Martinez in Maine.
It got to the point where they realized they were in Canada. That was based on some search dogs, and then they began piecing together the facts, said Private Investigator Joe Carrillo.
Missing 6-year-old Florida boy spotted in Maine WalgreensNew video appears to show a Florida boy, who has been missing for months, right here in Maine. DETAILS: https://bit.ly/3Fi0pt3
Posted by WGME CBS 13 News, Portland on Thursday, 27 October 2022
Someone phoned and said something, and she is just so happy for that individual as it simply took that, Concepcion said. They were spreading the word and sharing the news, and people wanted to assist.
She has never been happier, she remarked. This will only be topped by the moment she hugs him. Nothing compares to this emotion; she’s never felt so happy; she is simply so grateful right now that she doesn’t know what to say.
BREAKING NEWS 🚨
— Miami-Dade Police (@MiamiDadePD) October 30, 2022
The missing juvenile, Jorge “Jojo” Morales, has been recovered in Canada. We want to thank our local, state, federal, & international law enforcement, along with the @SDFLnews & @KathyFndzRundle for the collaboration on this case. pic.twitter.com/ajTkmAHCQ9
Concepcion stated that her kid, for the most part, is unaware of what occurred, which she finds extremely comforting.
She is pleased her son isn’t aware of what’s going on since this is a traumatic situation. She spoke with him and told him she was waiting for him to return from his trip, sweetheart! He just said, yes, mother.
Martinez and his mom, Lilliam Pena Morales, were apprehended by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Fortunately, there is a happy ending. Thank you to all those who helped and to those who saw Jojo and spoke up! You saved this young man’s life.
