Authorities locate child missing for 7 years; Mother and sibling arrested

CHICAGO — U.S. Marshals have located a child who was missing for more than seven years after they were allegedly abducted by their mother in mid-2018.

According to the U.S. Marshals Service for the Northern District of Illinois, the child was returned to the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) following a year-long effort to locate them.

An investigation into the child’s whereabouts began in May 2018, when an infant who was in DCFS custody was reported missing. The child was in the custody of DCFS as they had been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease.

The initial 2018 DCFS report about the disappearance indicated that officials had suspected that the child was with their biological mother, but was not safe in her custody.

Before authorities could take custody of the child, however, the mother allegedly fled.

The child remained missing for years until a break came in the case on May 7 of this year, when the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office issued an arrest warrant for the mother for contempt of court, which stemmed from a court battle to have the child returned.

Two days later, on May 9, Chicago police called in the help of U.S. Marshals to track the child down.

With the help of the CPD Internet Crimes Against Children, marshals were able to identify a residence in Humboldt Park where the child was believed to have been staying.

Authorities began surveillance on the residence and eventually confirmed that the mother was there. In addition to the child’s mother, however, authorities also allegedly observed several children and adults going in and out of the residence, including the missing child’s older sibling who was wanted by CPD for aggravated criminal sexual assault of a child.

Finally, on July 17, while observing the residence, authorities spotted the child’s mother leaving with a stroller alongside a teenager and a younger child who resembled the missing child.

After taking the woman into custody, authorities said a fake name was initially provided for the child, but after they used the child’s real name, the child eventually acknowledged their actual name.

The missing child, who is a ward of the state, was then returned to DCFS.

Due to the conditions of the children and the teen, who was the sibling of the children, DCFS took custody of them all.

Following the recovery of the children, the mother was arrested on her outstanding warrants and remains in custody at the Cook County jail.

Based on information provided during the investigation, the children’s older sibling, who was wanted for criminal sexual assault, was arrested the next day.

Authorities have not provided booking photos for anyone involved.