After 36 hours, Clarkston 1-year-old found within a mile of home

More than 36 hours of frantic searching came to an end Thursday afternoon after a missing Clarkston 1-year-old was found safe within a mile of his home and reunited with his family.

Blaise Barnett’s mother, Deonna Bray, and her family were a constant presence at the Clarkston Police Department from the time the child was reported abducted early Wednesday morning. Before Blaise was located, they gathered for a vigil at the police department and addressed the media, continuing their pleas for the toddler’s safe return.

Speaking to reporters, Bray shared some of Blaise’s favorite things — snacks, Cocomelon videos and Mickey Mouse — in the hopes that someone could provide those comforts to her son.

The case generated swift and widespread attention, with prominent figures such as Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and the Rev. Bernice King posting alerts on social media. By Thursday, the anguish had turned, mercifully, to relief.

“Little Blaise has been found alive. I’m thankful,” King posted after officials reported that Blaise was found safe around 2:30 p.m. Thursday. Few details have been released, but police said Blaise was found inside a car on Rogers Street, about a half-mile from the apartment complex where he was abducted.

According to Clarkston police, a woman reported seeing the child in a car outside of her home. She brought him inside and called 911, but did not know how Blaise got inside the car, Channel 2 Action News reported. Officers picked up the toddler at the home and he was reunited with his family shortly after at the Clarkston police station.

Blaise was taken to the hospital for evaluation but police said he appeared healthy. The investigation remains active and further information is expected to be released by Clarkston police and the GBI.

“He’s safe now. He’s home,” Bray told Channel 2. “That’s all I wanted.”

Neighbors in the area where Blaise was found were elated to hear he was safe.

“I’m just excited. I can’t stop crying,” neighbor Talitha Mowrey said. “We’ve all been looking and praying that this baby was all right. Thank God. Really, the Lord had his hand in this. I’m so relieved. I can’t wait for the baby to get back home to Mama.”

Blaise was first reported missing at around 1 a.m. Wednesday. By midday, Bray’s gray Ford Explorer had been found at an abandoned condominium complex a few miles from their Clarkston apartment. Blaise and the car seat he had been strapped in were not inside.

“I couldn’t sleep,” Bray told reporters at the vigil held at Christ Community AME Church. “It’s hard not having him. It’s the longest time we’ve been without him, without knowing where he’s at.”

According to a police report, Blaise’s parents said they were taking bags of groceries to their apartment on Montreal Road and returned to the parking lot to find their vehicle and son gone. Blaise’s father, Xavier Barnett, told police he carried his 3-year-old nephew inside first and was coming back for the toddler.

Bray said she estimated Xavier was inside the apartment for only 30 seconds, and in that time someone drove away with their son. The Explorer was not left running, but its keys were in the cupholder, according to the report.

Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

For 10 hours Wednesday, police canvassed the area with no sign of the boy or the stolen SUV. No witnesses came forward. A tipster offered the first break in the case shortly before noon, pointing police to the condemned Brannon Hill complex off Memorial College Avenue, where the SUV was found in tall bushes.

One man was interviewed at the complex Wednesday but later released, according to Clarkston police Sgt. Dustin Bulcher. An Amber Alert, known as a Levi’s Call in Georgia, remained active into Thursday as the nationwide search for Blaise continued with the help of the FBI and GBI. The state agency was processing the Ford Explorer for evidence.

Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

Anyone with information related to this case is asked to call Clarkston police at 404-557-8956.