The NYPD on Saturday released a police sketch of an 11‑year‑old autistic boy believed to be missing from Brownsville, Brooklyn, but the mother is insisting that the child never existed.
When asked of his whereabouts, she became angry, insisting she’s never had a child and lives alone.
Sources say the boy, Jacob Pritchett, is nonverbal and unable to provide information to help them find him. The sketch from NYPD shows a medium‑complexion male with black hair and brown eyes. Neighbors say they had not seen the child in over a month, which urged the Administration for Children’s Services to check in on him.
When the ACS workers and NYPD arrived at the apartment on Sept. 25, they found no sign of the boy. They requested his birth certificate, but the mother refused to provide it. Two days later, officers returned to the apartment with a K‑9 unit, which found traces of human blood near the refrigerator. However, the boy was still nowhere to be found.
The boy’s mother was hospitalized as an “emotionally disturbed person” on Wednesday, but as of now faces no formal charges.
The investigation has left detectives with questions. Is there a child here at all, or is this a case of denial or misdirection? While the NYPD think the sketch might help find them some leads, there isn’t any physical evidence that confirms Jacob’s existence so far.
Officials are asking the public for help. Anyone with information is asked to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1‑800‑577‑TIPS or submit tips online via their website https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ or on X @NYPDTips.
Missing‑autistic‑child investigations carry high stakes. The margin for error is slim, and time is critical. In one recent case, a nonverbal autistic child, Ruwaid Karim, in Jackson Heights was brought back home safely within hours, thanks to quick response and a tip from a good samaritan. That kind of outcome shows how important every clue can be.
But in this Brooklyn case, the public is left with more questions than answers.
