After reportedly being abducted from his mother’s van by two men in the parking lot of a Miami Home Depot on Thursday evening (Friday May 1), a 9-year-old boy with autism, has been found dead.
On Friday morning (May 22), the Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced, “The Florida Amber Alert for Alejandro Ripley has been cancelled. We are very sad to report that the child was found deceased.” The boy’s mother, Patricia Ripley, 47, told police she and her son were followed and ambushed by two suspects, demanding drugs.
A police statement reads, “The driver of the unknown vehicle attempted to side-swipe her vehicle. The vehicle then blocked her in while a male passenger ambushed her, demanding drugs. After stating she didn’t have any drugs, he then stole her cellular phone and abducted her son, fleeing southbound in the unknown vehicle.” Just after midnight, authorities issued an Amber Alert.
Hours later, it was cancelled after finding Alejandro’s body near a lake at the Miccosukee Golf and Country Club, about four miles from the place he was last seen.
Police have since towed the mother’s van to comb for any evidence, and continues its investigation to search for the suspects.
