2-year-old boy abducted in Arabi by his step-grandfather was found in good health in N.O. but the adult is still at-large and wanted on a warrant charging kidnapping
A 2-year-old boy abducted in Arabi by his step-grandfather on Thursday was found in good health in New Orleans late that night but the adult is still at-large and is wanted on a warrant charging kidnapping, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.
The boy, William Flattmann V, was returned to family members after a New Orleans woman called to report the child had been dropped off at her home that afternoon by the step-grandfather, Gary Wilson, 36.
Wilson is still at-large. Anyone knowing his whereabouts should call the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501 or Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111.
The boy’s family called the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office on Thursday afternoon to report the boy had been taken by Wilson, who when they spoke with him by phone, said he wasn’t bringing the boy back, Sheriff Pohlmann said.
The woman who called to say she had him said she saw a television news item referring to the missing child, with a photo of the boy and Wilson. She said she didn’t know he had been abducted, only that Wilson had dropped him off that afternoon to play with another child.
Louisiana State Police had earlier Thursday issued a Level II Endangered/Missing Child media advisory asking the public to report any sighting of the boy or Wilson.
Wilson, who has a lengthy criminal background, was driving a red Chevrolet Cavalier with an unknown license plate.
St. Bernard sheriff’s detectives worked on the case with a group of officers from numerous agencies known as the Joint Child Abduction Rapid Deployment Team, or JCARD – New Orleans. Agencies in the group besides St. Bernard include the FBI, State Police, the New Orleans Police Department, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Kenner Police Department and the Gretna Police Department.