Things can often get rough between former partners who are sharing custody of their children and shuffling kids back and forth between homes. But one thing that you never want to happen is for your child to go missing when they’re supposed to be with the other parent.
This video story posted by Wonderbot shares how an immigrant mother sent her young son to his father’s house across town for the night, only to have him disappear. Sadly, she didn’t hear a word from him until four years later.
The unnamed mother unsuspectingly sent her son to his father’s house one day in 2010. After she lost contact with him, she was unaware of how to handle things, so she called Child Protective Services only to have a failed investigation.
After some time, the police were notified about the missing boy, and even though they questioned the boy’s father and his neighbors about any suspicious activities, the authorities still had nothing to go on. His mother was overwhelmed with feelings of guilt and grief.
According to ABC News, four years later, Georgia police rescued the boy from the Clayton County home of his father, Gregory Jean. In a disturbing twist, the 13-year-old was found hidden behind a secret panel inside a closet within the insulation of his father’s garage.
More from LittleThings: The Baby Girl Abandoned In A Florida Safe Haven Box Got The Happy Ending She Deserved
The news outlet reports that in 2014, police arrested and charged Jean and a woman named Samantha Joy Davis, who was inside the home when the boy was rescued, with false imprisonment, cruelty to children, and obstruction of justice.
To hear how justice was served with this case, as well as another missing girl’s story, watch the full video shared by Wonderbot.
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child), or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
