In August 2002, a little boy vanished from his home in Alabama. Five-year-old Julian Hernandez was reported missing by his mother after his father left a note saying he'd taken the little boy.
Twelve years passed, and Julian continued living — reportedly happy, healthy, and normal — with his biological father in Ohio. His dad changed Julian's name and assumed a false identity himself.
Hundreds of tips flooded in over the years and Julian's mother never gave up hope that she would one day be reunited with her son. However, all of the leads proved false.
That was until Julian was 18 years old and began filling out his college applications. Julian noticed his social security number didn't match his name, and that's when the truth began to become apparent.
Confused by the supposed mix-up in his personal information, Julian asked a school counselor to help him complete his applications.
The counselor discovered Julian was listed as a missing person by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. He learned he had been abducted as a child — by his own father.
Authorities said Julian's mother was beyond overjoyed to hear her boy was alive and well.
But in a touching twist, he asked the judge to keep his father out of prison, saying he forgave him. Julian said growing up without a mother was painful, "but taking him away from me is doing the same thing all over again."
Watch the video to see Julian show unbelievable forgiveness at his father's sentencing, and please SHARE this story with your friends on Facebook.
