The Cincinnati Police Department has issued a call for assistance in locating 12-year-old Lakel Lee, who has been missing since Monday. According to a social media post by the Cincinnati Police Department, Lee walked away from his parents following a release from the hospital and was last seen in the Over-The-Rhine area of Cincinnati.
Please help us locate 12-year-old Lakel Lee. On 7/28/25, Lakel walked away from his parents after being released from the hospital. He is missing from the Over-The-Rhine area, but has previously been found in the Avondale area. Contact Det. Hert at 513-352-4568 with any info. pic.twitter.com/PLNuZyakLa
— Cincinnati Police Department (@CincyPD) July 30, 2025
This is not the first time the young boy has gone missing, previously, Lee was found in the Avondale area. The police have not yet disclosed why Lee was in the hospital, but they have released information regarding his disappearance. The Cincinnati Police encourage anyone with information to contact Detective Hert directly, the number provided is 513-352-4568.
The residents of Over-The-Rhine and Avondale are particularly urged to remain vigilant and to report any sightings of Lee to help ensure his safe return. Community efforts in cooperative searches and sharing the notice of Lee's disappearance are ongoing, with local volunteers distributing flyers and establishing an informal network to assist law enforcement.
The Cincinnati Police Department's posting contains a request for help, but also a subtext that denotes the depth of the community's role in such urgent matters of a child's safety—a communal awareness, an extended hand. As we await further updates, the hope remains for a prompt and safe resolution to Lakel Lee's disappearance.
