Police in New Jersey say a 16-year-old girl kidnapped a 1-year-old boy, and they need help finding her. Akera Johns allegedly took the boy, Hakeem Hintzen, from Vineland, New Jersey, on Saturday. Johns was reportedly babysitting the child for his mother when she took off.
Hakeem was found safe and reunited with his mother, but Johns remains elusive. Now, police and Hakeem's family want help finding her.
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No one seems to know why the babysitter took off.
According to a message on X, formerly known as Twitter, the US Marshal's Service Philadelphia reported Johns was watching the baby for his mother, Takishi Clark. New Jersey State Police reported Johns was last seen at the Cumberland Family Shelter on Mays Landing Road in Vineland. According to authorities, she allegedly refused to return Hakeem to his family on November 11 and seemingly disappeared.
During the search, the family asked anyone with information to help find Hakeem.
Clark posted on Facebook, writing, "Please help me find my baby his name is Hakeem Hintzen he is just one let my baby come back home."
Hakeem's great-grandmother, Lavern Robertson, echoed the mother's fear in a post of her own. "My great grandbaby is missing. Please pray for his safe return," she wrote.
Family and friends joined the women in prayer and sent well-wishes.
A friend commented on Robertson's page, "Hope she didn't harm that child the police must get her to know where she take him and why so my prayers with u."
There was reason to believe the teen was headed away from New Jersey.
Police believe that Johns might have been traveling with Hakeem to Philadelphia, so authorities in New Jersey and Pennsylvania worked together to locate the toddler. Per KYW, Johns reportedly heard that she was wanted by police and decided to give the toddler to someone she knew in Philadelphia. That person contacted Hakeem's relatives who live in Philadelphia, as well as the authorities.
Thankfully, the little boy appears to be OK.
Although it remains unclear why Clark and Johns made the child care arrangements, the mother and son are back together. Hakeem was reunited with his mom soon after Johns allegedly brought him with a loved one and left. In a video posted to X by Fox 29, Hakeem appears happy and healthy.
Police are still on the hunt for Johns. Vineland police believe the 16-year-old is still in the Philadelphia area and are asking anyone with information to call 856-696-1212 or 911.
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This case bears a striking similarity to a news story from earlier this year.
Adalyn Jean Burkett, 18, allegedly took off with two toddlers she was watching in June. The babysitter is accused of taking 2-year-old DeKarsen Middleton and 1-year-old Delyla Middleton and driving 1,600 miles from Florida to Wisconsin with the children and a man, Marquan L. Edwards. The toddlers were discovered abandoned in a park in Milwaukeem Wisconsin.
Burkett and Edwards were eventually arrested and charged with aggravated abduction.
