Family Located After Boy Found Wandering In Pontiac

PONTIAC (WWJ) - The family of a 3-year-old boy found wandering alone in Pontiac has been located, according to authorities.

The child, who says his name is Ben, was discovered walking on the sidewalk on Baldwin Road near Legrande Ave. Tuesday morning. He's now in the custody of Child Protective Services.

The boy wasn't able to tell deputies where he lives and was unable to provide his mom or dad's name.

The Oakland County Sheriff's officials released a photo of the child, hoping someone in the public might recognize him and might be able to help to locate his family. He spent Tuesday afternoon waiting at the Sheriff's Pontiac Substation, a gold badge pinned to his chest.

According to sheriff's officials, information obtained during a canvass of the neighborhood led them to a possible address for the child, in the 300 block of Baldwin.

A 16-year-old girl, was found in an upstairs bedroom. As it turned out, an investigation revealed, a "miscommunication" apparently led to the child having been left unsupervised.

The boy's parents say they'd dropped him off at the home without realizing that his babysitter wasn't there at the time; and then teen, asleep in the home alone, didn't even realize that the child was ever there.

An investigation is ongoing, according to Undersheriff Mike McCabe, who said many questions remain.

"(The mother) was at work, apparently, so we're not quite sure at this point in time," McCabe told WWJ's Sandra McNeill. "Her story at this point in time doesn't add up, so that's why Child Protective Services has taken temporary custody of the child. The child has not been returned to the parents."

It's unclear if the parents — a 40-year-old Pontiac woman and a 33-year-old Pontiac man — may face charges.