A boy who went missing in Alabama 13 years ago has been found unharmed in Cleveland, Ohio, according to authorities, CNN reported. Julian Hernandez, who was 5 years old at the time of his disappearance, was in the legal custody of his mother when he vanished on Aug. 28, 2002.
Julian's father, Bobby Hernandez, was supposed to drop the young boy off at preschool in Vestavia Hills, but instead Bobby Hernandez withdrew cash from his bank accounts and fled the area, according to Al.com.
It was suspected that the Bobby Hernandez had taken him as part of a noncustodial parental abduction, according to the Vestavia Hills Police Department.
On Monday, the Vestavia Hills police was contacted by the FBI's Cleveland office and said that the missing boy had been positively identified as 18-year-old Julian and was located in that city. Julian's mother and family were notified that he was found in good health.
Bobby Hernandez, 53, was arrested at his apartment on Cleveland's west side on Monday. Investigators believed that the two had been living together for the last 13 years.
Bobby Hernandez made his first court appearance on Wednesday in the Cuyahoga County Court, where the judge set his bail at $250,000. His preliminary hearing has been set for Nov. 12.
In addition to charges in Ohio, Bobby Hernandez will be facing charges in Jefferson County, Ala. in connection with the abduction. Bobby could also face additional charges, said Vestavia Hills police.
"We are in the process of getting charges on him and when that happens, when he is adjudicated in Ohio, then he will be extradited back to Jefferson County," Vestavia Hills Police Lt. Johnny Evans said, according to CBS News.
"She [Julian's mother] was excited. She was glad to finally get closure to know that he is still alive, (be)cause after 13 years of not knowing, she was glad to see that he was still alive," Evans added.
Jefferson County District Attorney Brandon Falls said Julian was found when he tried to apply for college. He said the teenager's Social Security number kept coming back as incorrect and asked a school counselor for assistance. While trying to help Julian, she discovered that he was listed as missing by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
