5 Year Old Julian Hernandez Went Missing in Alabama in 2002 … 13 Years Later, He Has Been Found Safe in Cleveland, Ohio

DON’T GIVE UP. DON’T EVER GIVE UP …

Vestavia Hills, Alabama police stated that Julian Hernandez was reported missing by his mother in August 2002 when he was only 5 years old. Flash-forward 13 years and the Julian Hernandez, now 18, has been found safe in Ohio. As it turns out the boys father, Bobby Hernandez, had abducted him. Authorities are saying that the boy probably never knew he was even kidnapped by the dad. Bobby Hernandez has been arrested and charged in Ohio in connection to the abduction and will also face charges in Jefferson County, Alabama.

Vestavia Hills, Alabama police say a child missing from the area since 2002 has been located in Ohio, according to CBS Cleveland affiliate WOIO-TV.

Julian Hernandez was reported missing by his mother in August 2002 when he was 5 years old. He is now 18.

It was suspected at the time that Julian’s father, Bobby Hernandez, took the child.

The Cleveland Division of the FBI says it received a tip October 30 that a person living in the city could be a missing child from Alabama. Three days later, authorities confirmed that person is Julian Hernandez.

Bobby Hernandez has been arrested and charged in Ohio in connection to the abduction and will also face charges in Jefferson County, Alabama. He is being held in Cuyahoga County on a $255,000 bond. He could face additional charges, Vestavia Hills police say.

Check out the amazing way that the boy learned he was the victim of a kidnapping. Julian Hernandez was applying for college and his social security number kept rejecting and coming back as incorrect. The teen asked for help with the problem and in determining why the SS number kept coming up as invalid, he learned that he was listed as missing by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Jefferson County District Attorney Brandon Falls says red flags were raised when Julian tried to apply for college. Falls said Julian’s Social Security number kept coming back incorrect. He then approached a school counselor for help. In trying to help Julian, she discovered he was listed as missing by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Falls said it’s unlikely Julian knew he was listed as missing. Falls added that he is seeking interference with custody charges in Alabama against Bobby Hernandez, which is a class C felony and carries a prison term of 1-10 years.