NY JACOB PRITCHETT: Missing from Brooklyn, NY - Sept 2025 - Age 11 - not reported (1 Viewer)

Mother in custody as police investigate possible missing 11-year-old boy in Brownsville: sources

While the child's mother denies the boy is in her apartment located at 614 Howard Ave. in Brownsville, the NYPD says a K-9 cadaver dog got a hit on the refrigerator for human blood.

abc7ny.com

Mother in custody as police investigate possible missing 11-year-old boy in Brownsville: sources​

A disturbing investigation is underway in Brooklyn into a possibly missing 11-year-old boy who has never attended public school.

While the child's mother denies the boy is in her apartment located at 614 Howard Ave. in Brownsville, the NYPD says a K-9 cadaver dog got a hit on the refrigerator for human blood.

Investigators are now waiting for a search warrant to more thoroughly examine the home.

Officials say that when ACS was initially called to the apartment on reports of child abuse, they say the mother denied even having a child. However, ACS has recovered a birth certificate with the woman as the listed mother.

"The safety and well-being of New York City's children is our top priority. As soon as this family came to our attention, we launched an investigation with the NYPD," an ACS spokesperson said.

On Wednesday, the agency called police to help with a welfare check.

Jacob was no where to be found.

According to law enforcement sources, who spoke to neighbors, they say it appears that the child, who has autism, has been missing for several "weeks."

Neighbors say they have rarely ever seen the boy.

There's no record of him attending public schools and there's no record of him anywhere.

A man said he had not seen the boy in years but remembers him having autism.

Another neighbor said he heard the mother yell.

"Yelling, it seemed like she was talking to somebody," he said.

"He's lived here all his life - my boyfriend - and he said he's only seen the kid a couple of times," neighbor Lay Givens said.

They say police have taken the 50-year-old mother into custody.

When conducting their search, they also discovered there was no electricity in the apartment.

"It's disturbing that people don't take care of their kids or harm them if that's the case," another neighbor David Alcantara said.


MEDIA - JACOB PRITCHETT: Missing from Brooklyn, NY - Sept 2025 - Age 11 - not reported

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Mystery deepens around Brooklyn boy missing 2 months whose mom denies having a child

NYPD cops, fearing the worst, have released a sketch and a computer-generated image of Jacob Pritchett, as well as a photo of the mother.

www.nydailynews.com

Mystery deepens around Brooklyn boy missing 2 months whose mom denies having a child​

More than two months after a Brooklyn woman denied having any children when cops came looking for her missing 11-year-old autistic son the whereabouts of the boy remain a mystery.

NYPD cops, fearing the worst, have released a sketch and a computer-generated image of Jacob Pritchett, as well as a photo of the mother, Jacqueline Pritchett, all in the hopes a member of the public will help them find the boy, dead or alive.

As the search continues, his 50-year-old mother, described by authorities as mentally ill, remains at Rikers Island, locked up since early October on a Brooklyn Family Court civil warrant charging her with contempt for not revealing where her son has vanished to.

Under terms of the Family Court Act, such a warrant can be issued when the a child’s safety is believed to be endangered.

What is happening in court, however, is also a mystery.

The mother’s court-appointed lawyer, Daniela Mancini, asked for reporters to be barred from a Nov. 24 hearing in Brooklyn Family Court.

A News reporter testified that the case is one of great public interest that has already been made public by police.

Judge Dawn Orsatti ruled that while Family Court proceedings are presumed open to the public she has the discretion, given the age of Jacob and other factors, to close the courtroom to reporters and the public, and did so for that proceeding.


One neighbor, Shamik Birzhet, 23, who lives in a third-floor apartment above the Pritchetts, told the Daily News the mother always struck him as standoffish and would often leave Jacob in the lobby unattended. Birzhet said he hadn’t seen Jacob for about a year.

He thought Jacob was as young as 6 because he had a slight build, though not young enough for the stroller in which he often saw him.

“He was always in a stroller, never walking around,” Birzhet said. “He was big for a stroller.”

The investigation seemingly picked up steam when police were pointed by neighbors to a nearby dumpster that had what a nearby resident, Angela Summers, 57, called a “death smell,” an odor so bad swarms of gnats and flies forced her to keep her windows closed.

“I know what that smells like — years ago, someone killed themselves in my building,” Summers recalled. “You never forget that smell, that death smell.”

Police searched the dumpster but by then whatever had been inside had apparently been removed, prompting a search, with the help of State Police, at the High Acres Landfill in Perinton, N.Y., about 14 miles east of Rochester.

Police had traced the dumpster’s trash to that landfill but after more than two days searching there was no sign of Jacob, sources said.

 

[Mel70]

Denied having a child, no public school record and LE actually had to secure a birth certificate, that may be a new one... Soust nds like to date she's been uncooperative.

Most neighbors talk like they had only seen him rarely or a handful of times but the one woman always saw him in the window playing until the beginning of summer it sounds like, once she realized she hadn't seen him recently.

Cadaver dog hit on the frig. I imagine it's not running with no electricity.

Getting a warrant to search further.

I'd never recall the case but I recall I believe in some part of NY a woman keep a dead child in the closet for years. I'd speculate that if no power, she also has no private mode of transport so to dispose of him, it would likely be at the complex, in her apartment, the dumpster, etc.

Since he seemed no to exist for the most part on paper, in school, etc. it is fortunate someone called for a welfare check, or there was someone to do so. One would think she would have been receiving some help from the county, etc...

Mental health issues are mentioned however I'd say she knows enough to be uncooperative, to lie about his existence or that she had a child and so on.

I'd say there's little hope he is alive. If he was with a relative or his father or some such, one would think she'd say so plus there was that cadaver dog hit.

Sad.

Sadly, I think you're right. You can draw some conclusions. Very sickening ones.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Sadly, I think you're right. You can draw some conclusions. Very sickening ones.

Yep, none of it sounds good, I see little to hang onto for hope in this one. And that's sad as he77.

 

[Mel70]

The way he is described. Appearance much younger than he is. In a stroller, special needs, rarely seen. Poor boy.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Brooklyn mom of missing 11-year-old autistic boy invokes Fifth Amendment in Family Court

Jacqueline Pritchett invoked her Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate herself when a judge on Thursday again asked where her son Jacob is.

www.nydailynews.com

Brooklyn mom of missing 11-year-old autistic boy invokes Fifth Amendment in Family Court

The mother of a missing autistic 11-year-old boy has again refused to say where her son is, speaking not a word when she appeared in Brooklyn Family Court Thursday.

Jacqueline Pritchett through her lawyer invoked her Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate herself when Judge Dawn Orsatti asked for information that could help police find her son, Jacob Pritchett, who authorities said has been missing since at least April.

Orsatti had harsh words for the 50-year-old mother and for her lawyer, Daniela Mancini, after Mancini spoke on Pritchett’s behalf.

“Your client has a voice,” Orsatti told Mancini. “It’s improper for you to say she can’t speak on her behalf.”

Pritchett, who police sources said has mental health issues, has denied her son even exists, claiming she has no children. She has been held on Rikers Island since early October on a civil court contempt warrant.

The judge allowed reporters to attend Thursday’s hearing after lawyers for the Daily News and New York Times objected to press being barred at the mother’s prior hearing on Nov. 24.

Orsatti said that her prior ruling, made after Mancini asked that media be told to leave, was based on a “compelling reason” — that Pritchett might reveal what happened to Jacob if reporters were not present.

Instead, Orsatti noted Thursday, Pritchett had seven times previously refused in court to reveal where Jacob is.

“If you don’t tell the court Jacob’s whereabouts you will remain in custody,” Orsatti told her Thursday.

That could change, however, if a Supreme Court judge rules that Pritchett’s constitutional rights have been violated because she has been jailed for invoking her 5th Amendment rights and that she should be released, as her other lawyer, Brian Holbrook, argues in a petition filed Tuesday.

Even if that happens, Orsattii told Pritchett, she must still continue to appear at Family Court hearings or risk being the subjeect of an arrest warrant.

The bizarre case first came to light in early October when it was learned that on Sept. 25 ACS workers had gone to the Pritchett home, a Brownsville apartment on Howard Ave., to check on Jacob because a tipster to a state hotline was worried about his well-being.

Pritchett wouldn’t let the Administration for Children’s Services caseworkers into the home, police sources said.

ACS then notified police and on Oct. 1, Pritchett allowed both police and ACS caseworkers to search her apartment.

There was no sign of Jacob, court papers said, but there were two mattresses inside as well as toys in the bathroom and in closets. ACS provided a birth certifical that proves Jacob is in fact his mother’s son, sources said.

Neighbors told the Daily News they remembered seeing Jacob, but not in weeks — one resident said it was more like a year. Neighbors said the boy, who doesn’t speak because of his austism, was small for his age and often pushed around in a stroller despite being too old for one.

The NYPD on Oct. 4 asked the public for help, identifying Jacob as missing and releasing a sketch of the boy and a photo of his mother.

Several days later the NYPD, along with State Police, searched the High Acres Landfill in upstate Perinton, about 14 miles east of Rochester.

Police, fearing Jacob’s body had been thrown into a dumpster outside his building, had tracked the garbage to the landfill. But after more than two days of searching police found no sign of Jacob.

Since then, the NYPD has released a computer-generated image of Jacob but appear no closer to figuring out where he is and if he is alive.

Amanda Cathers, an ACS deputy borough chief, said in court Thursday that the NYPD had reviewed several months of surveillance footage at the Pritchett’s building but did not see Jacob.

The NYPD said the search went back three months, with no footage available before then.

Anyone with information about Jacob is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Attorneys call for mother of missing Brownsville boy to be released from Rikers

The defense team argued that Jacqueline Pritchett's detention is a violation of the Fifth Amendment.

brooklyn.news12.com

Attorneys call for mother of missing Brownsville boy to be released from Rikers​

Attorneys for the mother of a missing Brownsville boy with autism asked a criminal court judge Monday to release her from Rikers Island.

The 11-year-old boy has been missing since October.

The defense team argued that Jacqueline Pritchett's detention is a violation of the Fifth Amendment.

During previous family court hearings, lawyers say Pritchett "pleaded the fifth" when she was asked questions about the whereabouts of her son, Jacob Pritchett, and what happened to him.

Her defense team argued that she was incarcerated for her refusal to answer potentially self-incriminating questions, which they argued is unconditional.

The judge is expected to decide on whether to release Pritchett on Tuesday.

 

[Kimster]

Attorneys call for mother of missing Brownsville boy to be released from Rikers

The defense team argued that Jacqueline Pritchett's detention is a violation of the Fifth Amendment.

brooklyn.news12.com

Attorneys call for mother of missing Brownsville boy to be released from Rikers​

Attorneys for the mother of a missing Brownsville boy with autism asked a criminal court judge Monday to release her from Rikers Island.

The 11-year-old boy has been missing since October.

The defense team argued that Jacqueline Pritchett's detention is a violation of the Fifth Amendment.

During previous family court hearings, lawyers say Pritchett "pleaded the fifth" when she was asked questions about the whereabouts of her son, Jacob Pritchett, and what happened to him.

Her defense team argued that she was incarcerated for her refusal to answer potentially self-incriminating questions, which they argued is unconditional.

The judge is expected to decide on whether to release Pritchett on Tuesday.

Leave her in there! A CHILD IS MISSING!

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Leave her in there! A CHILD IS MISSING!

Yes! She can "plead the 5th" about what actually happened to him all she wants. But "failure to produce" the child is still failure to produce!

 

[GrandmaBear]

Yeah if they charge something on that order, just as they should with Ashlee Buzzard. Different states of course.

I have more hope though for MB than this boy, she was seen far more recently before the news hit than this boy was.

Maddening in both cases.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Mother of missing Brownsville boy to be released from Rikers

Jacqueline Pritchett appeared in court Tuesday after she "pleaded the fifth" about the whereabouts of her 11-year-old son, Jacob, who has been missing since October.

brooklyn.news12.com

Mother of missing Brownsville boy to be released from Rikers​

The mother of a missing Brownsville boy will be released from Rikers, prosecutors say.

Jacqueline Pritchett appeared in court Tuesday after she "pleaded the fifth" about the whereabouts of her 11-year-old son, Jacob, who has been missing since October.

 

[Mel70]

Mother of missing Brownsville boy to be released from Rikers

Jacqueline Pritchett appeared in court Tuesday after she "pleaded the fifth" about the whereabouts of her 11-year-old son, Jacob, who has been missing since October.

brooklyn.news12.com

Mother of missing Brownsville boy to be released from Rikers​

The mother of a missing Brownsville boy will be released from Rikers, prosecutors say.

Jacqueline Pritchett appeared in court Tuesday after she "pleaded the fifth" about the whereabouts of her 11-year-old son, Jacob, who has been missing since October.

That is B.S.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Mom of missing autistic son released, but boy’s disappearance still a mystery​

The Brooklyn woman jailed for two months for refusing to say what happened to her missing autistic son on Tuesday was ordered released by a judge who ruled she was being punished for exercising her rights.

Jacqueline Pritchett, 50, must still show up in Family Court next week to be questioned once again about her son, Jacob Pritchett, a nonverbal 11-year-old missing since at least April.

His mother, who has mental health issues, let police and an Administration for Children’s Services caseworker into her Brownsville apartment on Oct. 1 when they were checking on a tip about Jacob’s well-being.

But there was no sign of Jacob — and Jacqueline Pritchett said she is a virgin who never had children, that she is Jesus Christ and that the toys in her home belonged to her, according to police sources and court documents.

After being taken to Brookdale Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation, the mother was jailed on a Family Court contempt warrant and has eight times refused to answer questions about Jacob, invoking her Fifth Amendment right to avoid saying anything that would incriminate her.

But on Tuesday Supreme Court Justice Margaret Martin said she agreed with the contention of Jacqueline Pritchett’s lawyers that Family Court Judge Dawn Orsatti unlawfully held Pritchett simply for her exercising her rights.

Pritchett, she said, was jailed based on her “good-faith assertion” that she has a right not to answer any questions.

“The petitioner is released,” Martin said. “She is to be released forthwith.”

Brian Holbrook, one of Jacqueline Pritchett’s lawyers, had no comment outside court.

A spokesman for the city Law Department, which had opposed Pritchett being released because it believes the Family Court contempt warrant was justified, said, “The city is evaluating next steps.”

 

[Mel70]

Jacqueline Pritchett

Mom of missing autistic son released, but boy’s disappearance still a mystery​

The Brooklyn woman jailed for two months for refusing to say what happened to her missing autistic son on Tuesday was ordered released by a judge who ruled she was being punished for exercising her rights.

Jacqueline Pritchett, 50, must still show up in Family Court next week to be questioned once again about her son, Jacob Pritchett, a nonverbal 11-year-old missing since at least April.

His mother, who has mental health issues, let police and an Administration for Children’s Services caseworker into her Brownsville apartment on Oct. 1 when they were checking on a tip about Jacob’s well-being.

But there was no sign of Jacob — and Jacqueline Pritchett said she is a virgin who never had children, that she is Jesus Christ and that the toys in her home belonged to her, according to police sources and court documents.

After being taken to Brookdale Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation, the mother was jailed on a Family Court contempt warrant and has eight times refused to answer questions about Jacob, invoking her Fifth Amendment right to avoid saying anything that would incriminate her.

But on Tuesday Supreme Court Justice Margaret Martin said she agreed with the contention of Jacqueline Pritchett’s lawyers that Family Court Judge Dawn Orsatti unlawfully held Pritchett simply for her exercising her rights.

Pritchett, she said, was jailed based on her “good-faith assertion” that she has a right not to answer any questions.

“The petitioner is released,” Martin said. “She is to be released forthwith.”

Brian Holbrook, one of Jacqueline Pritchett’s lawyers, had no comment outside court.

A spokesman for the city Law Department, which had opposed Pritchett being released because it believes the Family Court contempt warrant was justified, said, “The city is evaluating next steps.”

Without giving any answers. I don't understand that. She deserved to be caged until she did! Pleading the 5th. Really,?!!!! How can the judicial system think this is justifiable?! Unbelievable!!!

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Mom of missing Brooklyn autistic boy still won’t talk, gets agitated in court

Jacob Pritchett, and autistic and nonverbal 11-year-old, was declared missing by the NYPD in October.

www.nydailynews.com

Mom of missing Brooklyn autistic boy still won’t talk, gets agitated in court​

The Brooklyn woman who has continued to deny she is the mother of a missing 11-year-old autistic boy showed up in Family Court Friday and again shed no light on the the child’s whereabouts.

Jacqueline Pritchett, 50, through her lawyer, invoked her Fifth Amendment right not to answer questions — but grew agitated when Judge Dawn Orsatti told her she needed to bring her son to authorities and appear at her next court date on Dec. 30 or risk arrest.

“I’m not showing up, I’m telling you right now,” Pritchett said, though she appeared to be directing her remarks at her lawyer, Daniela Mancini. “I don’t have money. I don’t have a place to live.”

Mancini, over the course of several minutes, tried to calm Pritchett down and get her to stop talking, but the woman pushed back.

“No, no. Stop, Daniela — please,” she said. “I can’t show up.”

After calming down, Pritchett was told by Orsatti that she has the option of appearing virtually and that, if she chooses to appear in person, she will be provided a round-trip MetroCard by the Administration for Children’s Services.

Outside the courthouse, Mancini and other colleagues from Brooklyn Defender Services escorted Pritchett into a livery cab.

Neither Pritchett, now living in a shelter, nor Mancini would answer reporters’ questions.

The judge has declared that Jabob Pritchett is indeed Jacqueline Pritchett’s son.

The NYPD in October declared Jacob missing. A police source on Friday said the last time any relative saw Jacob was in January, when one of them waved to the little boy from outside his building.

 

[Mel70]

Mom of missing Brooklyn autistic boy still won’t talk, gets agitated in court

Jacob Pritchett, and autistic and nonverbal 11-year-old, was declared missing by the NYPD in October.

www.nydailynews.com

Mom of missing Brooklyn autistic boy still won’t talk, gets agitated in court​

The Brooklyn woman who has continued to deny she is the mother of a missing 11-year-old autistic boy showed up in Family Court Friday and again shed no light on the the child’s whereabouts.

Jacqueline Pritchett, 50, through her lawyer, invoked her Fifth Amendment right not to answer questions — but grew agitated when Judge Dawn Orsatti told her she needed to bring her son to authorities and appear at her next court date on Dec. 30 or risk arrest.

“I’m not showing up, I’m telling you right now,” Pritchett said, though she appeared to be directing her remarks at her lawyer, Daniela Mancini. “I don’t have money. I don’t have a place to live.”

Mancini, over the course of several minutes, tried to calm Pritchett down and get her to stop talking, but the woman pushed back.

“No, no. Stop, Daniela — please,” she said. “I can’t show up.”

After calming down, Pritchett was told by Orsatti that she has the option of appearing virtually and that, if she chooses to appear in person, she will be provided a round-trip MetroCard by the Administration for Children’s Services.

Outside the courthouse, Mancini and other colleagues from Brooklyn Defender Services escorted Pritchett into a livery cab.

Neither Pritchett, now living in a shelter, nor Mancini would answer reporters’ questions.

The judge has declared that Jabob Pritchett is indeed Jacqueline Pritchett’s son.

The NYPD in October declared Jacob missing. A police source on Friday said the last time any relative saw Jacob was in January, when one of them waved to the little boy from outside his building.

She is unbelievable. Her not talking says it all.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Brooklyn mom of missing 11-year-old autistic boy no longer has to face questions in court: judge

Jacqueline Pritchett is free for now of any legal obligations regarding the investigation into the disappearance of her son Jacob Pritchett.

www.nydailynews.com

Brooklyn mom of missing 11-year-old autistic boy no longer has to face questions in court: judge​

The mother of an autistic 11-year-old boy missing for months no longer has to show up in Brooklyn Family Court to answer questions about his whereabouts, a judge ruled Tuesday — despite cops fearing the child is a victim of foul play.

The ruling means that Jacqueline Pritchett, described by police sources as mentally ill, is free for now of any legal obligations regarding the investigation into the mysterious disappearance of her son Jacob Pritchett.

Pritchett has denied to authorities she ever had a child, even after being confronted with proof otherwise. After being held in contempt of court at Rikers Island for more than two months, Pritchett’s lawyers succeeded earlier this month in convincing a Brooklyn Supreme Court judge that she was being improperly held as punishment for exercising her right not to answer questions about Jacob’s whereabouts.


“It’s been three months,” Orsatti said Tuesday as Pritchett, her lawyers and ACS staffers appeared virtually in his court. “I don’t think at this point Family Court is the appropriate venue for this matter.”

The judge noted that if new information about Jacob is learned ACS can again ask that the mother be held in contempt.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Brooklyn mom of missing 11-year-old autistic boy no longer has to face questions in court: judge

Jacqueline Pritchett is free for now of any legal obligations regarding the investigation into the disappearance of her son Jacob Pritchett.

www.nydailynews.com

Brooklyn mom of missing 11-year-old autistic boy no longer has to face questions in court: judge​

The mother of an autistic 11-year-old boy missing for months no longer has to show up in Brooklyn Family Court to answer questions about his whereabouts, a judge ruled Tuesday — despite cops fearing the child is a victim of foul play.

The ruling means that Jacqueline Pritchett, described by police sources as mentally ill, is free for now of any legal obligations regarding the investigation into the mysterious disappearance of her son Jacob Pritchett.

Pritchett has denied to authorities she ever had a child, even after being confronted with proof otherwise. After being held in contempt of court at Rikers Island for more than two months, Pritchett’s lawyers succeeded earlier this month in convincing a Brooklyn Supreme Court judge that she was being improperly held as punishment for exercising her right not to answer questions about Jacob’s whereabouts.


“It’s been three months,” Orsatti said Tuesday as Pritchett, her lawyers and ACS staffers appeared virtually in his court. “I don’t think at this point Family Court is the appropriate venue for this matter.”

The judge noted that if new information about Jacob is learned ACS can again ask that the mother be held in contempt.

I'm a big believer in rights but if you have a missing child, a right not to answer about where that child is I am not sure I believe in.

It doesn't belong in family court, I'd agree with that. It belongs in criminal court.

FREE of any legal obligations??