http://blogs.discovery.com/criminal_report/crimes_against_children/Where is Alexander Erb-Sanchez?January 18, 2010
The Missing – A Weekly Exposé of Lost Souls – Issue #39
Alexander Matthew Erb-SanchezIn this edition of "The Missing," we revisit the case of Alexander Matthew Erb-Sanchez, a two-year-old boy from Ellenton, Florida, who was allegedly abducted in 2008.
According to Alex's father, Bradley Erb, Alex was taken by his non-custodial, 26-year-old Micaele Sanchez-Vasquez, sometime between November 4 and 7, 2008.
"She fled with Alex and all their belongings," Bradley said. "The police would not take a missing person until Nov. 7, the date of my next visitation. Micaela's neighbors and friends lied to police in regard to her whereabouts, we believe, in order to give her time to escape."
Roughly one week after Bradley filed the missing person report with police, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office issued a felony kidnapping warrant for Micaela. Unfortunately, authorities have not yet been able to locate her or Alex.
"I've posted flyers, involved several missing children advocacy groups – the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Polly Klaas Foundation and the American Association for Lost Children – but we have yet to get any substantial leads in the case," Bradley said. At one point, I even traveled to Juxtlahuaca, Mexico to search for Alex because we believe that is Micaela's hometown. Again, nothing."
One of the most difficult problems that Bradley has been facing is obtaining media attention in reference to his son's case.
"I believe the more the story is in front of people, the more likely someone is to recognize them and report their whereabouts, but it is very difficult trying to get the media interested," Bradley said.
Bradley is not alone in his plight. Parental abductions seldom garner the type of attention seen in cases of stranger abduction. According to an ABC News article, The Most Dangerous Kidnappers: Parents, there is a misconception among the public and law enforcement that children who are kidnapped by their parents are not endangered.
"I think there's a perception with people that, 'Oh, since they're with a parent, no harm will come to the child,'" Nancy Hammer, director of the International Division of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, said in an interview with ABC News. "And also since it involves two parents and family, it seems to be a messy situation. It doesn't seem as black and white as if a child was abducted by a stranger. It's taken a while, but progress has been made in making these abductions crimes, felonies. But they can lack the sense of urgency in the public and law enforcement reserved for other cases."
Regardless of the lack of attention that Alex's case is receiving, his father is far from ready to give up hope.
"I love my son to death and I want him back," Bradley said. "It is extremely hard not knowing, especially when there are people out there who know where Micaela and Alex are. Please help me find him. I need my son back."
Alexander Matthew Erb-Sanchez is described as a white/Hispanic, male, 2'10" tall, 30 pounds, with light brown hair and blue-green eyes.
Micaele Sanchez-Vasquez is described as a Hispanic female, 5'3" tall, 135 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, at 1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST) or the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, at 941-747-3011.
