Crime & Law

Authorities Safely Locate Chicago Child Who’d Been Missing 7 Years

Chicago police and federal authorities announced Friday they’ve safely recovered a child who had been missing for more than seven years.

The CPD, along with the U.S. Marshal’s Service and the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, announced the child was found with their mother after they had gone missing in 2018.

Authorities said the Department of Children and Family Services was set to take custody of the child that year after the child had been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease. But before they could recover the child, they went missing with their mother in May 2018.

A DCFS report indicated that the child was likely still with their mother but was not safe with her, authorities stated.

In May 2025, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office issued an arrest warrant against the mother for contempt of court, stemming from a yearslong court battle over the child. And last month, Chicago police sought assistance from the Marshal’s service in locating the child.

Authorities conducted surveillance on a Humboldt Park residence where the mother was believed to be living and confirmed she was there, along with the child’s older sibling who had been sought on allegations of aggravated sexual assault of a child.

Police took the mother into custody on July 17 without incident while she was on a walk and located the missing child. Authorities said a fake name was given for the child at first, but they later acknowledged they were the missing child.

Two other young children were also found with the mother, authorities said, and due to their conditions, they were all taken into custody by DCFS.

The mother was arrested on her outstanding warrant and taken to the Cook County Jail, while the missing child — who remained a ward of the state — was taken into DCFS custody.

The older sibling wanted on sexual assault charges was arrested the following day, authorities said.

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