TRACADIE-SHEILA, N.B. – Parents searching for their missing son watched in shock as he fled the house of an elderly neighbour who had allegedly kidnapped him, New Brunswick police said.
Tracadie RCMP Sgt. Marc Beaupre said the boy, who is under 10, was lured from his backyard by a man who lives a few houses away.
“The kid was able to break free from the suspect and was recovered by his parents,” he said.
“His parents were looking for him. He was not responding to any calls they were making … they were able to see him running away from the residence of the suspect.”
A 71-year-old man appeared in Tracadie provincial court this week on charges of kidnapping, assault and unlawful confinement. Beaupre said the suspect was known to police, although he wouldn’t say how.
Beaupre said the boy had been told to stay on the family’s property in an urban area of Sheila, N.B., but was drawn away around 7 p.m. Tuesday.
“We know that the kid was riding his bicycle, was yelled at by the individual … and after that the kid was lured into the residence,” said Beaupre. “For some reason, something happened within the residence and the kid was able to break free.”
The parents noticed within minutes that the boy, who was not known for wandering off, had gone missing, Beaupre said.
“The kid broke free prior to any other crimes being committed …. We believe that the kid was not in any sort of way abused by the individual,” he said. “We don’t know exactly what the intentions were of the individual, he’s not co-operating too much with the police.”
Beaupre said the family knows the man charged in the case. Police are not releasing the name of the man, to protect the boy’s identity.
