Authorities on Friday are draining a pond at an East Point apartment complex where a 2-year-old boy was last seen late Wednesday night.
The search for J’Asiah Mitchell has become focused on the The Elite at Lakeview Apartments since investigators accused his father, 23-year-old Artavious North, of falsely reporting the boy’s kidnapping. North reportedly told the child’s mother that their son was taken during an armed robbery in the Panthersville area of DeKalb County, but police have found no evidence of such a crime.
North was arrested Thursday on charges of making false statements and a false report of a crime, impeding investigators looking for J’Asiah. And still the boy has not been found.
Preliminary investigation has revealed that a kidnapping did not occur in DeKalb County. We are working through inconsistencies in the reporting of the alleged kidnapping. The investigation is fluid and evolving. https://t.co/2JEbxmOjQE
— DeKalb County Police Department (@DeKalbCountyPD) August 18, 2023
East Point police confirmed J’Asiah was staying with his father at his apartment Wednesday night. The Elite at Lakeview complex is tucked between I-285 and Camp Creek Parkway, just off Washington Road. The pond is located on the property.
“At this time, East Point police detectives are actively searching for the missing 2-year-old. We are following all leads as it pertains to this case,” the department said in a statement.
Police spokesperson Ischa Njoku told Channel 2 Action News detectives were working to obtain surveillance footage and pass out flyers at the complex. Crews began draining the pond Friday afternoon, the news station reported.
Credit: John Spink / John.Spink@ajc.com
Credit: John Spink / John.Spink@ajc.com
“I’ve been up crying, worrying. I’ve been praying,” Asia Mitchell said Thursday of her only child. “He’s only 2. He doesn’t know what’s going on, just like I don’t know what’s going on. I’m just as confused as he is and he’s probably as scared as I am.”
Before North’s arrest, Mitchell was told her child was taken at gunpoint. North called her, the mother told Channel 2, and said he was approached by a gunman while at a stop sign.
”A car pulled out in front of him at gunpoint and took my baby, because they couldn’t take anything from him — that’s the story that he ... (is) telling me,” Asia Mitchell said.
Investigators have not made public any information about what may have happened to J’Asiah, even as the search entered a second day.
DeKalb police said it had contacted the GBI about releasing an Amber Alert, known as a Levi’s Call in Georgia, but were told “this incident did not meet the criteria.” According to the GBI, the criteria for issuing an Amber Alert involves “reasonable belief” that an abduction occurred, and “enough descriptive information” of the victim and abductor.
Anyone who has seen the boy is asked to call 911 or call East Point police at 404-559-6200. He was last seen wearing Buzz Lightyear pajamas.
— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.
