An AMBER Alert has been issued for 5-year-old Jace Saunders, who was last seen in Tavares yesterday afternoon near Summerall Park. According to a report by WFTV, the search for Jace is ongoing, and his grandmother, Kelly Day-Dasilva, is identified as the person he is believed to be with. They may be traveling in a black Honda Accord. Jace is described as having autism, semi-verbal, and last seen wearing a long-sleeved black shirt with a colorful graphic and dark-colored pajama pants.
In a detailed update, ClickOrlando expanded upon the circumstances of Jace's disappearance, explaining that the initial custody intervention did not go as planned. The police were to easily retrieve Jace Saunders from a residence, but instead, a family friend, Mitchell Morris, chose not to bring him back from a golf cart ride, taking him to a park where the grandmother was waiting. Morris has since been arrested for interference with child custody. Late in the evening, similar charges were pressed against Jace's parents, Taylor Judy and Brandon Saunders, citing a lack of cooperation with the police.
Tavares Police Department informed that they have issued a Lake County warrant for kidnapping and interference with child custody against Day-Dasilva. The community has been urged to remain alert and to contact the police immediately if they observe Day-Dasilva or Jace. To provide any information regarding their whereabouts, people are encouraged to call the Tavares Police Department at 352-343-2101 or 911.
