Florida AMBER Alert: 5-Year-Old Jace Saunders Kidnapped in Tavares.
An AMBER Alert has been activated in Lake County, Florida, following the reported kidnapping of a 5-year-old boy, Jace Saunders. Authorities are urgently searching for Saunders and his 50-year-old grandmother, Kelly Day-Dasilva, after they were last seen in Tavares, Florida.
A Florida AMBER Alert has been issued for 5-year-old Jace Saunders, who may be with his grandmother, Kelly Day-Dasilva. (FDLE on X)
According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Saunders and Day-Dasilva are believed to be traveling in a black Honda Accord. The boy, who was diagnosed with autism, is semi-verbal and was last seen wearing a black graphic t-shirt and dark pajamas, as shown in the official photograph included with the alert.
Law enforcement officials confirmed that Saunders’ last known location was in the 1000 block of Wells Avenue, Tavares, Florida. The Tavares Police Department issued the AMBER Alert on Sunday, reporting that the child’s parents, Taylor Judy and Brandon Saunders, were taken into custody for obstructing child custody as part of an ongoing investigation led by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF).
In connection with the incident, Day-Dasilva is facing charges of kidnapping and interference with child custody. She is still at large, and authorities have requested the public’s help in locating her.
“We continue to pursue all leads,” the Tavares Police Department stated in a Facebook post. “Any assistance from the community would be greatly appreciated.” The police urge anyone with information to contact them immediately at (352) 343-2101, option 4.
Authorities are warning the public not to approach the suspects or their vehicle. If you see Jace, Day-Dasilva, or the black Honda Accord, please call 911 immediately.
An AMBER Alert is a public notification system in the United States (and other countries) used to quickly disseminate information about a child who has been abducted or is missing under suspicious circumstances. The name “AMBER” is derived from Amber Hagerman, a 9-year-old girl from Arlington, Texas, who was abducted and murdered in 1996.
AMBER Alerts are activated when law enforcement believes a child has been abducted and is in imminent danger. The alert includes details about the child, the suspected abductor, and any relevant information, such as the vehicle they may be traveling in. The goal is to quickly spread this information to the public so that citizens can help authorities locate the child and prevent harm.
Key features of AMBER Alerts:
- Wide Distribution: Alerts are sent out via radio, television, highway signs, and mobile phone notifications (via Wireless Emergency Alerts, or WEAs).
- Criteria for Activation: Generally, an AMBER Alert is issued when:
- The child is under 18 years old.
- Law enforcement believes the child is in immediate danger of harm or death.
- There is enough descriptive information about the child, the suspect, or the suspect’s vehicle.
- The alert is issued within a specific time frame (usually within a few hours of the abduction).
The goal is to get the information out as quickly as possible to increase the chances of locating the child safely. The AMBER Alert system is credited with helping to recover many missing children by engaging the public in the search effort.
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