Authorities are widening their search for Jacob Pritchett, an 11-year-old boy from Brooklyn's Brownsville neighborhood, whose disappearance has led them to comb through refuse at High Acres Landfill in Perinton, New York, located roughly 12 miles from Rochester. ABC 7 New York provided drone footage showcasing police activity at the landfill, a visual in the hunt for Jacob, who is non-verbal and on the autism spectrum.
After a September 25 wellness check at his mother's apartment turned up no sign of the child, and subsequent visits found nothing more than toys lined up unused no food, or clothes prompting intensive investigative efforts, concern has mounted over his well-being. "Jacob is still missing," authorities have confirmed, as they delve into the process of searching through the landfill, though they have not disclosed what specific leads brought them to this location, sources close to the investigation have shared these details with News 12 Connecticut.
Complicating matters, Jacob's mother reportedly responded to child welfare workers with the claim that she didn't have a child. Her birth certificate naming her as Jacob's mother was later found by the Administration for Children's Services (ACS). Following these troubling assertions, Jacob's mother was taken to a hospital for evaluation as an emotionally disturbed person, ABC 7 New York reports.
Amidst the ongoing search, the sketch of Jacob alongside a photo of his mother is being circulated, neighbors recalling a trash bin with a “strong odor” behind the building days prior to the missing child report. This detail adds to the ongoing investigation, which is focused on both Brooklyn and upstate areas. It has been more than two weeks since Jacob was last seen. During this time, police have continued to follow leads in efforts to determine the whereabouts of the Brownsville boy, this information has been relayed by News 12 Connecticut.
