A mother from Brooklyn, accused of claiming her long-missing 11-year-old autistic son didn’t exist, was released from Rikers Island this week. Her lawyer invoked her Fifth Amendment rights, according to law enforcement sources.
Jacqueline Pritchett, age 50, was freed on Tuesday after being held since October due to a family court warrant that stemmed from her alleged refusal to answer questions regarding her son, Jacob Pritchett.
Officials noted her attorney sought to protect her against self-incrimination.
Reports indicated that when child welfare and police conducted a raid on her Howard Street home in late September and early October, they found no sign of Jacob.
Jacqueline reportedly reacted with anger during a visit to the NYPD, insisting she had no children and lived alone.
Detectives later used a K9 unit in the apartment, discovering traces of human blood around the refrigerator, but still no sign of the boy. Neighbors mentioned they hadn’t seen Jacob for about two months.
Following that police visit, Jacqueline was taken to a hospital, where she was deemed “emotionally disturbed,” according to officials.
A week later, the New York City police searched the High Acre Landfill in Fairport, over 300 miles from Jacob’s home in Brownsville, but found no evidence of the boy.
In late October, police released a computer-generated image that depicted what Jacob might look like today.
When The Post checked in on Wednesday, Jacqueline was absent from her apartment.
An urgent notice was posted on her door, instructing her to vacate the premises and warning that her landlord would dispose of her belongings and change the locks the following day.
On Thursday, the NYPD stated there were no new updates regarding Jacob’s whereabouts.
