Latest news with #JenniferRodriguez
CBS News
14 hours ago
- CBS News
Where is Patrick Alford Jr.? A New York City cold case investigation
"Cold Case with Alice Gainer" looks into disappearance of foster child in Brooklyn "Cold Case with Alice Gainer" looks into disappearance of foster child in Brooklyn "Cold Case with Alice Gainer" looks into disappearance of foster child in Brooklyn It was cold the night of Jan. 22, 2010, and witnesses say 7-year-old Patrick Alford Jr. wasn't dressed for the weather outside. He was merely throwing out the trash inside his apartment building, then he was supposed to head right back to his foster mother's apartment. But police say he seemingly vanished without a trace. Fifteen years later, he still hasn't been found. Patrick Alford Jr., 7, seemingly vanished without a trace from his foster mother's Brooklyn apartment in 2010. Photos provided Who is Patrick Alford Jr.? In 2010, CBS News New York reported that Patrick's biological mother, Jennifer Rodriguez, had admitted to being a drug addict and shoplifting, and she said she called child welfare for help. Rodriguez, who had been living on Staten Island at the time, then handed over custody of Patrick and his younger sister. Patrick was sent to live with a foster mother at the Spring Creek Towers Complex, formerly known as Starrett City, at 130 Vandalia Ave. in East New York, Brooklyn. At the time, CBS News New York reported police said Patrick had been with the foster mother for only three weeks, during which time he threatened to run away and said he wanted to go back to his biological mother. On Jan. 22, 2010, around 9 p.m., Patrick left the 11th-floor apartment to take out the trash and never returned. The elevator and stairwell were next to the trash compactor. Police K-9s were brought in to try to trace Patrick's steps. "The dog actually led them to a bus stop that was right around the corner from the building that he went missing from and that was it, that was where they lost the scent," retired NYPD Det. David Ramirez said. Thousands interviewed after child's disappearance in Brooklyn The police response was immediate and massive. Ramirez and Lt. Christopher Zimmerman, both now retired from the NYPD Missing Persons Squad, lived and breathed the case. Zimmerman, who was the commanding officer at the time, said they interviewed well over 8,000-9,000 people and knocked on over 14,000 doors. "We went around to the traffic cameras, to anybody who got a red light summons," he said. "Receipts for gas stations where people used credit cards. 'Did you see Patrick?' We interviewed bus drivers." Zimmerman continued, "We went as far as interviewing over 150 registered sex offenders, and we came up with nothing on that." Ramirez and Zimmerman added that the Department of Environment Protection and emergency services even searched a nearby water treatment plant. "Everybody was in. Every asset," Zimmerman said. Patrick Alford Jr., 7, seemingly vanished without a trace from his foster mother's Brooklyn apartment in 2010. CBS News New York Patrick's foster mother was on the phone when he left with the garbage, according to Zimmerman. "I had a good vibe about her intentions. From not expecting anybody, the house was immaculate. Her past history as a foster mother was incredible, never a complaint. She meant well and she was visibly upset. This was rocking this woman," he said. "Not that you ever turn a blind eye, you always keep your eye open a little bit just in case something pops up, but she was pretty credible at the time." CBS News New York tried getting in touch with the foster mother multiple times, but was unable to speak with her. Neighbors who have lived in the same building at the Spring Creek Towers Complex for decades had kind words. "Been in my building for years. Nice lady, foster kids," neighbor Tracy Ball said. "I had seen [Patrick] many times. Not that day. His foster mom, she had other kids and I would see her. Nice lady," neighbor Natalie Thomas said. Both women vividly remember the night Patrick went missing. "I always wonder about him, always wonder," Ball said. They also remember another thing missing from that time period – fear. "It was like he just disappeared, which we all thought was kind of strange," Thomas said. "There was no fear, that's why I said it just seemed maybe orchestrated." Missing child's biological mother says she regrets giving up custody A family court judge tossed Patrick's biological mother in jail, believing she was hiding Patrick and demanding she turn him over. CBS News New York reported back in 2010 that Rodriguez took a lie detector test and passed when she said she didn't know where Patrick was, but failed when she said she didn't know anything about his disappearance or how he got away. "I think that's bullcrap because I don't know nothing," Rodriguez said at the time. Late CBS News New York reporter Pablo Guzmán sat down with Rodriguez early in the investigation. "You're the one that the police and the judge, everybody's focusing on," Guzmán said. "I don't know why, and it's not fair for me because I don't have anything to do with it and I don't have anything to hide," Rodriguez said. Patrick Alford Jr., 7, seemingly vanished without a trace from his foster mother's Brooklyn apartment in 2010. Photo provided CBS News New York spoke with Rodriguez again four years later, in 2014, and she recently spoke with CBS News New York's Alice Gainer via Zoom. "I do not know where my son is," said Rodriguez, now 38. Rodriguez was 22 years old when Patrick went missing and was a single mother to three children. She said she gave up custody fully intending to eventually get her children back. "To get the help that I needed to be a better person, a better parent. That's why I did it. I had no choice," she said. "I was a good mom. I mean, I had mental health issues." She wasn't cut off from contact, though, and she spoke to Patrick's foster mother. "He was placed with a foster mother that spoke strictly Spanish," Rodriguez said. "She used to tell me that he would, like, try to run off and that he was hard to deal with." She also spoke with Patrick, who she says couldn't communicate with his foster mother since he only spoke English. "It was always so crushing like, 'Mommy, I want to come home. Please. I love you.' It just takes my breath talking about it because I can hear his little voice. He didn't understand what was going on," Rodriguez said. "I regretted it. I was like, what did I do?" "Patrick vanished" Rodriguez remembers all the heat on her after Patrick went missing. "It was the most scariest and traumatic time in my life. I was like, my son is missing and you're locking me up? I felt so hopeless because it's like, I'm in jail, you're focusing on me, and he's out there," Rodriguez said. Rodriguez thinks that maybe her son did initially try to run away, but then something happened to him. "Maybe he's like, 'I'm getting out of here.' You know, kid being a kid. I'm thinking somebody took him. Ain't no way he gonna just disappear," she said. "A normal person would be like, 'OK, let's go find your family.' Patrick vanished. Vanished." Zimmerman said police didn't find anything that would've tied Rodriguez to the disappearance. Patrick's biological parents won a $6 million settlement after they filed a federal lawsuit against city agencies involved in the case. It's been put in a trust for Patrick if he returns home. Police also say Patrick's biological father cooperated with the investigation. He recently died. Zimmerman said police checked on relatives outside of the New York City area and flushed out tips that came in from as far away as Minnesota, Indiana, North Carolina, Puerto Rico and Florida. "There was a lot of theories," Zimmerman said. At one point, there was a private investigator involved in the case. CBS News New York has not heard back from them. "Eventually, the truth's gonna come out" Today, the Missing Persons Squad has a cabinet filled with thousands of files dedicated to the Patrick Alford case. "I always go back to these files, give it a fresh look," NYPD Det. Ezequiel Burgos said. "The case is still an active case," NYPD Lt. Christopher Torrisi said. "And we canvas the area multiple times a year." Torrisi said the department has received many tips, but none have panned out. "We've gone to other countries where other people have seen him, supposedly," he said. Still, nothing has been ruled out. Left: Patrick Alford Jr., 7, in 2010; Right: A digitally produced age progression photo showing what Patrick may look like today at age 22 Photos provided Patrick would be 22 years old now. Zimmerman said he believes Patrick is still alive, and if he is out there somewhere, living his life, it's still important to call police. "Those resources, if he's found alive and healthy, could be elsewhere helping another case," Zimmerman said. "Eventually, the truth's gonna come out, and somebody knows something about where he is or what happened," Ramirez said. Rodriguez said she still celebrates her son's birthday every year and has a message for him. "I love you. If there's any way out there for you to find a way home safely, to come home ... We never gave up on you," she said. "We pray about you every single day." CrimeStoppers is offering a $13,000 reward for information in this case. Anyone who knows anything is asked to call 1-800-577-8477 (TIPS).
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Miami Herald
06-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Human remains found in fire pit 9 months after man vanished, Ohio officials say
National Human remains found in fire pit 9 months after man vanished, Ohio officials say Xavier Menefee was reported missing in 2024. His remains were found in Akron, Ohio, officials say. Screengrab from Melanie Woods' Facebook post in Summit County Ohio Missing Persons' page. Officials in Ohio are investigating after they say human remains were found in a fire pit. Around 4:50 p.m. May 2, the Akron Police Department was called to a homeless encampment, according to a May 5 Facebook post by the Summit County Medical Examiner. Officers were called for a report of two men fighting. As they spoke with the men, one of them mentioned the human remains, WOIO reported. Nearby, officers found human remains in a fire pit, officials said. Akron police also found remains in a trash bag, WJW reported. Officials used dental records to determine the remains belonged to 22-year-old Xavier Menefee, the medical examiner's office said. Menefee was reported missing out of Canton in August, according to WJW. Anthony Fields, 54, and Kurth Conaway, 34, are charged with abuse of a corpse, according to court records. The two were arrested in connection with the remains found, WOIO reported. Akron is about a 40-mile drive south from Cleveland. Jennifer Rodriguez mcclatchy-newsroom Go to X Go to Facebook Email this person 330-781-1998 Jennifer Rodriguez is a McClatchy National Real-Time reporter covering the Central and Midwest regions. She joined McClatchy in 2023 after covering local news in Youngstown, Ohio, for over six years. Jennifer has made several achievements in her journalism career, including receiving the Robert R. Hare Award in English, the Emerging Leader Justice and Equality Award, the Regional Edward R. Murrow Award and the Distinguished Hispanic Ohioan Award.
Miami Herald
05-05-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
These 5 lottery players tried their luck — and won. Take a look at the stories
National These 5 lottery players tried their luck — and won. Take a look at the stories Ordinary moments led to extraordinary lottery wins for these lucky players. One Maryland man claimed a $50,000 prize from a $10 scratch-off. Meanwhile, a Missouri player simply picked three 'Full of 500s' tickets and was amazed when the third revealed a $100,000 top prize. Read about their wins in the stories below. A Missouri man was left in shock after seeing his prize from a scratch-off ticket. Getty Images/iStockphoto NO. 1: LOTTERY PLAYER THOUGHT HE WAS SEEING THINGS AFTER SCRATCHING THREE TICKETS IN MISSOURI 'I didn't know if I was seeing things,' the man said. | Published May 20, 2024 | Read Full Story by Jennifer Rodriguez A Baltimore woman is still in shock after winning a big prize from a $5 lottery game. Getty Images/iStockphoto NO. 2: LONG-TIME LOTTERY PLAYER BUYS TICKET TO SOOTHE 'ITCHY PALM' — AND WINS BIG IN MARYLAND She spent $5 on the game and won much more. | Published July 9, 2024 | Read Full Story by Helena Wegner A South Carolina lottery player won $1 million in a second-chance drawing. Getty Images/iStockphoto NO. 3: SKEPTICAL LOTTERY PLAYER BET $1,000 THAT HIS BIG WIN WAS FAKE. THEN HE OWED HIS FRIEND 'It's the best feeling,' the South Carolina winner said. | Published February 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Simone Jasper A man won big after buying a $10 scratch-off, Maryland Lottery officials said. Getty Images/iStockphoto NO. 4: LOTTERY PLAYER LANDS THIRD BIG WIN WITH $10 SCRATCH-OFF IN MARYLAND. 'EXTREMELY HAPPY' 'This time, it's going into my house. The stock market's not so good these days.' | Published March 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Paloma Chavez Dedicated lottery player celebrates biggest win in over 15 years, Maryland officials said. Getty Images/iStockphoto NO. 5: LOTTERY PLAYER HAD 'SOME LUCK' OVER 15 YEARS, BUT 'NOTHING LIKE' LATEST MARYLAND PRIZE The winner was so 'stunned' at the site of the number she scanned the ticket several times to confirm, officials said. | Published March 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brooke Baitinger The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
Boston Globe
03-03-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
Foster kids need more help to stay in school
Get The Gavel A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Enter Email Sign Up It's important for every young adult to have a high school diploma but even more so for foster children, who often need to make their way without family support. Yet foster children graduate at a lower rate in Massachusetts than any other demographic group measured by the state — including students who are homeless, have disabilities, or are learning English. Advertisement In 2023, the four-year graduation rate for foster children was 58.3 percent, compared to 89.2 percent of all children, according to Disparities are similar nationally. According to It's a huge problem, but not a surprising one. 'In order for students to be successful at school, they need to have a caregiver who's invested in their education, who has big dreams and can see the future for them,' said Jennifer Rodriguez, executive director of the California-based Youth Law Center. Often, that's exactly what foster children lack. Advertisement Advocates for children say one of the biggest barriers is a lack of stability. 'Kids in foster care bounce around, and they lose a tremendous amount of academic progress,' said Shaheer Mustafa, CEO of HopeWell, a Dedham-based nonprofit that supports DCF-involved families. Massachusetts foster kids move more than their national counterparts. According to the And moving harms academic performance. A Advertisement Challenges are exacerbated when a child has special needs. According to 'If your kid's on an IEP, you have to be on top of it,' said Margaret Albright, a Newton School Committee member who volunteers as a DCF is trying to help youth graduate. The agency last year began using electronic records from school districts and the state to identify and support youth at risk of dropping out. DCF employs education coordinators, liaisons between DCF and school districts who can consult on issues related to IEPs or discipline. DCF social workers can access students' educational records and work with students, families, and schools. Some foster children get But there's likely more that can be done. One Advertisement Reducing placement instability is the biggest need, which would involve systemic reforms. Meanwhile, Programs do exist. For example, HopeWell offers one-on-one tutoring for foster children in kindergarten through third grade statewide, which follows students as they switch homes or schools. Expanding successful programs and ensuring more students can access them could improve outcomes. School officials may also need better training and schools may need better policies to accommodate foster children's needs — for example, replacing out-of-school suspensions with in-school suspensions that include academic support. Once a student drops out of school, it becomes harder for them to successfully launch into adulthood. Now 24 and living in Brockton, Taylor said she's looking for a job and stable living situation and taking tests to get a high school equivalency credential. 'I wish I did stay in school,' Taylor said. 'I would have had more opportunities now.' Shira Schoenberg can be reached at
