Post by Scumhunter on Jan 15, 2016 10:00:27 GMT -5
(Pictured: Above: Top: Dwayne Weedon (Wanted for Questioning), now captured. Bottom: Baby Nehemiah (Presumed Deceased) Photo Credits: Jacksonville Sheriff's Office via firstcoastnews.com)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Officers are trying to find out what Dwayne Curtis Weedon, Jr., 29, was doing in October of 2014 in connection to a missing baby that police said they "strongly believe" to be dead.
Chief of Investigations Tom Hackney with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office asked the public for assistance in locating the father of missing baby Nehemiah Weedon, who was last seen by Dwayne back in October of 2014. He originally said he gave the baby to family members. Police said they do not think this is the case.
At a press conference Sunday evening, Hackney laid out what authorities believe to be the facts of the case.
In March of 2014, Kristin Branch, 25, was arrested while she was pregnant with Nehemiah for forgery, fraud and narcotics charges. She and Weedon had two other kids - a two-year-old and a four-year-old, police said.
Branch gave both children to Weedon, who was homeless at the time.
He moved into the local Sulzbacher Center near downtown Jacksonville, Hackney said. The Sulzbacher Center gives aid and shelter to homeless families on the First Coast.
Branch would give birth in August to Nehemiah at UF Health and gave the baby to Weedon as she awaited her trial. She would eventually be transported to state prison on her charges.
In October of 2014, Weedon allegedly went to a caseworker at the Sulzbacher Center and said he was having trouble taking care of the kids. Weedon told the case worker he gave little Nehemiah away to a family member.
Hackney said police believe this to be a lie; they believe that's when Nehemiah died.
"We strongly believe little Nehemiah is deceased and deceased from unknown reasons," Hackney said.
In December of 2014, Weedon was kicked out of the Sulzbacher Center for "behavioral issues," Hackney said.
Police said they do not know where he went or where he took the children.
When Branch got out of prison in late November of 2015, she regained custody of the two-year-old and four-year-old, police said.
Weedon tells her at this time that he gave Nehemiah to a family member and she goes about her way - not questioning him, Hackney said.
This past New Year's Eve, Branch was living with her family. Her family members became concerned for little Nehemiah and called the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office because that's where they lived.
The case was passed along to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, who promptly began trying to ascertain the whereabouts of the missing baby and, by extension, Weedon.
Hackney said it was difficult to reach Weedon or his family members. Weedon is estranged from his family and several of his family members are reportedly estranged from each other. Hackney said that police have been working through the week to try and find the baby. He said he's unable to get into the specifics of the case, but are asking for the public's help to find Weedon.
Police ask that anyone who may have seen Weedon or Nehemiah back in October of 2014 when he told the case worker he gave the child to a family member to contact them.
Hackney said police do not believe any family member has the baby.
Weedon reportedly has warrants out for his arrest for dealing in stolen property and credit card fraud, authorities said.
The last contact Branch had with Weedon was a message he left on her phone back on Dec. 21, 2015 wishing her a Merry Christmas.
He is considered missing at this time.
www.firstcoastnews.com/story/news/local/florida/2016/01/10/police-work-bring-justice-baby-nehemiah/78602984/
Thoughts? It's important to note Dwayne Weedon is only wanted for questioning and has not been charged with any crime in Baby Nehemiah's presumed death, however, he does have warrants on other charges which is why I'm placing him in the fugitives as opposed to missing section as a breaking news case. (Also, very unimportant detail- but was not sure what to put for the wanted year- I put 2016 since the wanted for questioning aspect just came out this year). I unfortunately agree with the Jacksonville County Sheriff's Office that Nehemiah is likely deceased. It might be hard to find Weedon, but if you work at a homeless shelter near Jacksonville or anywhere else in Florida, or someone claiming to be down on their luck wants you to help them, be on the lookout for this guy.
UPDATE: Weedon has been captured. Baby Nehemiah, however, remains missing.
According to online articles, Anyone with information about the case or the missing baby is asked to call the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) immediately at 904-630-0500 or email JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org. To remain anonymous and receive a possible reward up to $3,000, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.
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