A woman from New Jersey has been charged with obstruction after her missing son was discovered hiding in a crawl space in their home, according to authorities.
The situation unfolded when the father of the 17-year-old boy reported that his son wasn’t at the agreed drop-off location on Tuesday night. Jennifer Buckley, the boy’s mother, allegedly informed the police that her son was not at home and that she didn’t know where he could be.
She also claimed that the teen was unwilling to go to his father’s house and expressed concerns that he might pose a danger to himself.
The East Brunswick Police Department commenced a thorough search for the juvenile. They stated, “Patrol officers and other personnel committed extensive resources to the search, while detectives carried out a follow-up investigation in subsequent days.”
As part of their investigation, the police entered the teen’s details into the National Crime Information Center, which revealed several inconsistencies in Buckley’s account of events.
When authorities eventually searched her residence, they found the boy concealed in a crawl space in the basement, where it appears he had been the entire time with his mother’s assistance.
Fortunately, there was no evidence that he had been harmed.
Consequently, Buckley was arrested and charged with obstructing the administration of law.
East Brunswick Police Chief Frank LoSacco emphasized the seriousness of reports involving missing juveniles, especially when there are safety concerns. He stated, “I commend the patrol officers, detectives, and other personnel who worked diligently to locate this juvenile and ensure his safety. Providing false or misleading information to law enforcement undermines those efforts and unnecessarily diverts officers and resources away from members of our community who may need immediate police assistance.”
Fox News Digital has attempted to reach the East Brunswick Police Department for additional details.
