Miami Gardens Boy Found Safe, Mother Charged with False Imprisonment Following AMBER Alert

A frantic search for a missing 9-year-old boy in Miami Gardens culminated in relief when the child was found safe, and his mother taken into custody. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement had issued an AMBER Alert for Liam Smith yesterday afternoon, a move that lasted only briefly before officials cancelled the alert, according to WSVN.

Details surrounding the disappearance of the young boy were scarce, but authorities had initially believed Liam may have been with 45-year-old Tameka Budwah, his mother. Before his recovery, Liam was last recorded in the 17700 block of Northwest 14th Avenue, outfitted in a light blue school uniform shirt, dark blue pants, and black shoes. The FDLE released his physical description as standing 4 feet tall, weighing roughly 90 pounds, with a noticeable scab under his eye, as reported by CBS News Miami.

In the aftermath of the incident, Miami Gardens Police Department confirmed that Tameka Budwah is in police custody. The charges leveled against Budwah include false imprisonment of a child, which suggests a more complex scenario than that of a simple disappearance.

The search had encompassed avenues for public involvement, with information about a black 2024 Honda Civic that Liam and his mother were believed to be traveling in making rounds on social media. The vehicle carried a Florida license plate RJVLS8, and individuals with any pertinent information were urged to contact the authorities.