Ambert Alert issued for missing 6-year-old believed to be with his dad
MIAMI – On Friday, an Amber Alert was issued for a missing 6-year-old autistic boy who has been missing since Saturday morning.
The boy is believed to be with his dad and grandmother.
It took a series of steps within the investigation for authorities to deem this a kidnapping.
Once it reached that threshold, an Ambert Alert was issued in hopes of finding 6-year-old Jojo.
"I hope that my baby knows that I'm looking for him. That I'm here."
Yanet Leal Concepcion knew something was wrong when her ex-husband did not bring her son back to her home on Saturday.
She contacted the police immediately.
"We had somebody else open the apartment to the show police. They were gone. Everything was gone."
She says investigators began the search right away.
The parents had a shared custody agreement of Jorge, but Concepcion sought full custody.
Police on Thursday issued an Endangered child alert and arrest warrant for Jorge Gabriel Morales, 45.
"I don't wish this upon anybody."
Mom became concerned about her son's safety well before he went missing. "Jojo," as he's affectionately called, told her something his dad said.
"'We are going to move somewhere where there are windmills. Can you come with me?' That's what he kept telling me."
What Jojo said, among other things, raised red flags. Now her worst nightmare has become a reality.
Morales did not comply with shared custody orders and did not return his son Jojo to his mother last Saturday.
Concepcion called police that night.
"Our main concern at this point is the child," said Det. Alvaro Zabaleta.
"I just want to wake up and realize this is a nightmare. Every time I close my eyes, I feel his little hands."
She showed us his room, complete with a car bed and drawings of cars.
"He could have him during the day only. Not at night," said Concepcion.
Authorities say this started as a civil matter before escalating. "On Monday, the father had not returned the child."
Missing person's unit got involved and immediately put a Missing Person's Alert into the system," said Zabaleta.
Jojo is on the spectrum, has a fantastic memory, and loves cars.
"He's like the smartest kid on earth. He knows every car, make and model. Every Sunday, we'd go out, and I would ask what do you want to do? Go to the park. He'd say, 'I want to go to the parking lot to see the cars.'"
She longs to create more wonderful memories with her son's safe return.
But investigators uncovered a disturbing fact. "They found that he's been planning this for a year," said Concepcion.
"I just want my baby."
By Wednesday, authorities explained they had no word from the child, dad, or the paternal grandmother.
Concepcion says Jojo does know her number, so if you see him, ask for it and call her.
It's been challenging for Concepcion, telling us she has barely eaten or slept since her son was taken. What gives her hope is investigators are searching for her child.
The mom also tells us Morales, Jojo's dad, wrote a letter to his father saying, "I'm sorry. I have to take my son and go."
By Thursday, an arrest warrant was issued for the father. By Friday, "it becomes a criminal matter of kidnapping," said Zabaleta.
The evolving investigation is why authorities explain it took nearly a week to issue an Amber Alert.
"We don't want it to be just 10,000 officers looking for this child," said the detective. "We want 2.7 million people looking for this child. It makes that much more difficult for the dad to move."
Meanwhile, his mother is hoping for Jojo's safe return soon.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-8477 or (305) 471-TIPS.
