A stranger notified authorities after spotting the Florida boy in Canada with his father at a supermarket.
Jorge “Jojo” Morales was first reported missing by his mother, Yanet Leal Concepcion, on August 27. Two months later the boy was spotted by a stranger who recognized him with his father at a Supermarket in Canada. The Miami-Dade Police Department confirmed that the missing boy had been found and was safe and unharmed. Concepcion’s ex-husband, Jorge Morales, 45, and the child's paternal grandmother, Lilliam Pena Morales, 68 have been arrested and remain in police custody. They have been charged with interfering with custody and concealing a minor, contrary to a court order.
“This is another example how local, state, federal, and international law enforcement, along with the United States and State Attorney’s Office coming together for the safety of a child and will continue to work together to fight the greater evil,” Miami-Dade Police Director Freddy Ramirez said in a statement. “I’m just so happy because my son is okay, I feared the worst,” Concepcion told Local10. “Every mother fears the worst and I’m just … I can’t, my body is like leaving my soul. I’m just so happy, I can’t stop crying.”
Jojo, who has autism and whose parents share custody, went missing after his grandmother picked him up for a court-ordered visit in late August. After he was picked up the boy was not returned to his mother by his father. His father had been planning a move for a year. Soon after he was reported missing an Amer Alert was issued and authorities began searching for the child, according to CBS News. CBS Miami captured the moment the youngster was reunited with his mom at Miami International Airport. As soon as he spotted his mother, he had a big grin on his face and ran towards her, yelling, "Hi, mommy." "I missed you so much," Leal Concepcion responded back to her son as she hugged him tightly.
Private investigator Joe Carrillo who was helping the family pointed out how the stranger's call changed the family's lives. "This tipster did nothing short of saving a child's life, nothing short of saving a child's life and return to a mother her life that was lost without her child." According to Carrillo the boy's father had built a cabin in Canada for him and his son and wanted to live "off the grid" in a remote area. Leal Concepcion is just glad to have her son back and told CBS Miami's Peter D'Oench that "there are no words to describe how happy I am." To the tipster, she added, "I owe this person my son's life and I can't say thank you enough to this person," she said. "It took courage for that person to do this and thoughtfulness. That person thought about making the right decision for my family."
Home at last! 💙
— Miami-Dade Police (@MiamiDadePD) November 2, 2022
Missing juvenile, Jorge "Jojo" Morales is finally reunited with his mother and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/aBBuPgXiQZ
References:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kidnapped-boy-jorge-jojo-morales-reunited-with-his-mom-miami-florida/
Cover Image Source: YouTube | CBS Miami
