Authorities in Texas are still searching for a 12-year-old boy who has been missing since July and are now calling on the public to assist in the case.
An AMBER Alert has been issued for the missing boy, identified as Connor Young, whom the Crandall Police Department described as Black with brown eyes, 5-feet, 4-inches tall and weighs 100 pounds.
The alert said that Young was last seen in the 2800 Block of Lolita Way in Heartland, Texas, a community in Kaufman County around 25 miles from Dallas, and that his last sighting was on July 4.
The alert was distributed across Texas late on Friday, marking the case as urgent and seeking the public’s assistance in locating the child. AMBER Alerts are reserved for cases where a child is considered to be at serious risk, often when believed to be with someone who may pose potential harm. The alert system, also known as a child abduction emergency alert, was created following the 1996 murder of 9-year-old Amber Rene Hagerman in Arlington, Texas.
The Dallas Police Department announced on Facebook on Sunday morning that it would be assisting in the search for Connor as well as his mother Dorcas Young, writing: “The Dallas Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in locating Dorcas and Connor Young. The Dallas Police Department is assisting Kaufman County in locating Dorcas Young and her son Connor Young.”
The AMBER Alert for Connor Young on the website of the Texas Department for Public Safety. Young, 12, was last seen on July 4, according to Crandall Police Department.
Texas Department of Public Safety
Law enforcement officials have emphasized that the longer Connor Young remains missing, the more critical the situation becomes, given the extended period without contact.
The alert says that Connor was last spotted with his mother Dorcas, described as a 42-year-old Black woman, who stands at 5-feet, 4-inches and weighs 230 pounds. Dorcas Young is now a suspect and is wanted in connection with Connor’s disappearance.
Dorcas is reportedly driving a black 2023 GMC Yukon bearing the Texas license plate SNH9831. People are urged to contact 911 or the Crandall Police Department at 469-376-4500 if they have any information on the Youngs.
When contacted by Newsweek, the Crandall Police Department said it had received a call from an AT&T employee on October 30 who said that Dorcas Young had texted disturbing messages concerning her mental health.
Authorities visited Dorcas’ house in Heartland but found nobody home. On November 2, Dorcas’ daughter came to the Crandall PD to file a missing persons report for her mother, Connor, as well as a 19-year-old sibling.
“Kaufman County Dispatch then assisted with ‘pinging’ [Dorcas] Young’s cell phone which showed her to be in the area of Park Lane and the N. Central Express Way in Dallas,” the department said. The call was transferred to Dallas PD on November 2, and Young’s vehicle was located at a hotel in the city on Saturday evening.
“Officers are still working on locating Young and the two children. Dallas PD is handling the investigation at this point due to Young’s cellphone pinging in the Dallas area.”
Given that the AMBER Alert system is designed to reach a broad audience quickly, law enforcement hopes the heightened public awareness will prompt someone with information to come forward.
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Update 10/04/24 10:06 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with a response from the Crandall Police Department.