When police learned a teenage boy went missing in Florida, they never could have expected what really happened to him. The Charlotte County sheriff’s office responded to a call at Crossroads Hope Academy around 10 p.m. on February 10, 2025. Deputies learned a 15-year-old boy had left to visit a park but never returned. When staff went looking for him, they reportedly could not find the teen and called police for help.
According to a press release from the sheriff’s office, during the course of the investigation, deputies learned a volunteer named Sherry Novelli, 61, had been involved in an incident with the teenager earlier in the day. Novelli had reportedly planned to adopt the boy. But after the alleged incident, staff at Crossroads told her to leave and to not have further contact with any youth in their care.
Investigators spoke with Novelli, who reportedly admitted to seeing the 15-year-old boy at South County Park earlier in the day. She claimed she brought him food and left, but it appears Novelli only told part of the story.
“The detective made contact with Crossroads and learned that Novelli had purchased the boy’s cell phone and was providing the service for it. She had also opened a bank account in his name,” the release explains. “When the detective contacted Novelli to discuss this, Novelli advised that she did not know where the boy was but suggested he may be in Tampa. She also wanted to know what steps were being taken to locate him. The detective arranged to meet with Novelli, but Novelli missed the meeting, rescheduling for later in the afternoon because she had a dentist appointment in Venice.”
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The detective on the case reportedly tracked the teen and Novelli to a dental office in Venice. A deputy from the Sarasota County sheriff’s office found the pair at the dentist and took them into custody.
While speaking with investigators, the teen reportedly told police he planned to run away when he learned he could no longer see Novelli. She allegedly set him up in a condo where she brought him alcohol, cigarettes, and a marijuana vape pen.
“When visiting, Novelli would use a code word when arriving to let him know it was her. The teen stated that there was no sexual relationship between him and Novelli,” the sheriff’s office shared.
Novelli reportedly confessed her actions to the detective. Police arrested her on interference with child custody and contributing to the delinquency of a child or dependent charges, according to the release. Deputies took her to Charlotte County Jail, and she was later was released on bond.
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Sheriff Bill Prummell condemned Novelli’s actions.
“Youth who are enrolled at Crossroads Hope Academy have already had a rough go of things. To further complicate their lives is not a ‘motherly’ thing to do, and it only further harms them,“ he shared in a statement. “This woman made a series of poor choices, and it is clear that she is not what is best for this young man. I hope that her impact is not long-lasting and that he finds the right person to help him find his way.“
