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By Hollie Silverman
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New York City Police (NYPD) are continuing to search for Jacob Pritchett, an 11-year-old autistic and nonverbal boy reported missing from his Brooklyn apartment, according to a press release from the NYPD emailed to Newsweek Tuesday.
Authorities released a sketch of Jacob over the weekend and circulated his description as community concern mounted in Brownsville, where the boy was last seen at his home on Howard Avenue.
Jacob's mother has been hospitalized for evaluation after police and child welfare workers were unable to locate the child during a welfare check.
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During interviews, the mother has denied that he exists, according to a report from the New York Post citing law enforcement sources.
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Newsweek reached out to the NYPD by email Tuesday for more information.
Why It Matters
This case has captured public attention due to both the vulnerability of the missing child and the extraordinary circumstances of his disappearance.
Increased scrutiny has focused on the oversight of at-risk youth and the response of social services when caretakers are not forthcoming. The situation highlights the systemic challenges in safeguarding children with special needs, particularly when caregivers provide conflicting or misleading accounts. Authorities and advocates have raised concerns about procedural gaps that can delay intervention in cases involving nonverbal and vulnerable minors.
What To Know
Jacob Pritchett, described by authorities as an 11-year-old Black male with a medium complexion, brown eyes, and black hair, was last reported living with his mother at an address on Howard Avenue in Brownsville, Brooklyn.
Officials said a call for a wellness check was placed with the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) on Wednesday, after reports from neighbors that Jacob had not been seen for weeks to months.
Police officers, accompanied by ACS workers, executed a search warrant at the Howard Avenue apartment but found no trace of Jacob in the residence, yard, or dumpsters. The NYPD K-9 unit signaled traces of human blood in or near the refrigerator, but there was no sign of the boy, ABC 7 NY reported.
During the wellness check, police stated that the apartment lacked electricity, and Jacob's mother, 50, denied having children., the report said.
Officers located a birth certificate at the apartment identifying her as Jacob's parent. She was subsequently taken into custody and hospitalized for evaluation as an emotionally disturbed person, authorities said.
The case began after ACS workers first visited the apartment on September 25, reportedly encountering resistance when Jacob's mother refused to hand over his birth certificate.
Neighbors reported not seeing Jacob for close to two months. The NYPD subsequently released a sketch of Jacob to the public in order to assist in the search.
Neighbors described seeing a young boy in the apartment’s window in the past, but said he had not been seen since summer. Crystal Burrell, a resident in the area, told ABC 7 NY the situation was sad, saying, "I would always see a little boy in the window playing with his toys by himself making noise, and since all of this has taken place…he is not in the window no more. I haven't seen him like all summer."
Investigators noted that Jacob had never been enrolled in public school. No updates were immediately available regarding his whereabouts or condition.
What People Are Saying
Crystal Burrell, neighbor, told ABC7NY: "I would always see a little boy in the window playing with his toys by himself making noise, and since all of this has taken place, I realized to myself like, the boy is not in the window no more. I haven't seen him like all summer. All summer, he has not been in the window, so it's a sad situation."
NYPD told Newsweek in an emailed statement Tuesday: "It was reported to police that the missing [boy] was last reported residing with his mother, inside 614 Howard Avenue. The missing is described as a male with medium complexion, brown eyes and black hair. He is nonverbal and unable to provide any identifying information."
What Happens Next
The investigation into the disappearance of Jacob Pritchett is ongoing as the NYPD continues to canvass the area, interview neighbors, and follow up on tips provided through Crime Stoppers.
Jacob's mother remains hospitalized for evaluation, and no charges have been filed.
Authorities urge anyone with information to come forward and call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on X @NYPDTips.
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