11yo New York boy missing: Mother denied she even has a kid, then cops checked the birth records

A strange and tragic missing-person case has emerged out of New York City, where Jacob Pritchette, 11, who is autistic and nonverbal, has vanished. Authorities say his own mother first denied he existed until birth records proved otherwise.

The case came to light after neighbors reported they hadn’t seen Jacob in weeks. Authorities say they went to the mother’s apartment on Howard Avenue in Brownsville, Brooklyn, after a welfare check request. When confronted, Jacob’s mother, 50, allegedly insisted she lived alone and denied ever having a child. But records recovered by the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) contradicted her claims: a birth certificate lists her as Jacob’s mother, according to New York news outlet WABC.

Before the most recent police welfare check, ACS had already responded to an earlier call on September 25, but that visit turned up no signs of Jacob. At that time, the mother refused to show the certificate. Jacob’s mother’s name remains unreported.

Blood evidence found, still no boy

After police were called in for the more recent check, a K-9 cadaver dog signaled evidence of human blood in or around the apartment’s refrigerator, which had no electric power at the time. Still, investigators found no trace of Jacob during searches of the apartment, the yard, or dumpsters behind the building. Authorities detained the mother and transported her to a local hospital for psychiatric evaluation. She has not yet been formally charged in connection with the disappearance.

At the same time, the NYPD released a sketch of Jacob, the only picture available of the boy seeking public assistance. Jacob is described as having a medium complexion, brown eyes, and black hair. Because he is nonverbal, he cannot identify himself.

Neighbors say Jacob had not been seen in recent months and that they sometimes heard the boy inside the apartment. Some recall seeing him playing by a window, but not in weeks. Investigators say records suggest Jacob never enrolled in public school.

The case remains active. The NYPD has urged anyone with information to come forward. The public is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or 1-888-57-PISTA for Spanish, or submit tips via the NYPD’s online portal.