A mother from Brooklyn has been taken into custody at Rikers Island. She made a startling claim to police that her 11-year-old son, Jacob Pritchett, who is nonverbal and autistic, never existed. Authorities shared this information on Monday.
When child welfare officials and police searched her home on Howard Street in late September and early October, they found no sign of the boy. The 53-year-old mother, whose name hasn’t been publicly revealed, is being detained on a warrant from Brooklyn Family Court for failing to produce her child.
Reports indicate that during an Oct. 1 visit to the NYPD, the mother grew agitated, insisting that she had no children and lived by herself.
Things took a more serious turn. When detectives brought in a K9 unit, they discovered evidence of human blood near the refrigerator, yet no sign of Jacob was found. Neighbors have said they hadn’t seen him for approximately two months.
Following her visit to the police, the mother was taken to a hospital and described as “emotionally disturbed,” according to officials.
About a week later, New York City police searched the High Acres Landfill in Fairport, which is over 300 miles from her home, hoping to find any indication of Jacob’s whereabouts.
On Friday, authorities released a computer-generated image depicting what Jacob might look like now.
As of Monday, there was still no information on his location.
If anyone has details concerning this case, they are encouraged to contact the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish speakers, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
Tips can also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers website.
All calls are kept confidential.
