Mother of missing autistic boy in Brooklyn initially identified as a ‘single mother’ before altering her account.
Authorities continue to investigate the troubling case of a missing 11-year-old boy, Jacob Pritchett, from Brooklyn, with significant developments emerging from court proceedings involving his mother, 50-year-old Jacqueline Pritchett. Recent court records reveal a disturbing narrative surrounding the child’s welfare and the mother’s contradictory statements regarding her family circumstances.
During a police and child services visit on October 1, 2025, to Jacqueline Pritchett’s Brownsville apartment, officers confirmed the presence of children’s toys and mattresses, yet Jacob was notably absent. Officer Maksim Kolesnyak testified that during their interaction, Pritchett initially described herself as a single mother but subsequently amended her statement to “single female.” This apparent confusion raises questions about her engagement with reality and the well-being of her son.
Investigators, following an anonymous tip concerning Jacob’s safety, found the apartment in a surprisingly tidy condition with a strong scent of cleaning supplies. ACS caseworker Gabriel Martindale noted the cleanliness of the premises and recounted that, when questioned about the toys, Jacqueline claimed they were hers, denying any connection to a child. Furthermore, she allegedly insisted that she had never had a child nor engaged in a relationship with a man, even claiming a divine identity as Jesus Christ.
The ongoing investigation revealed that authorities had responded to a domestic incident report in 2017, prompted by complaints regarding a crying child within the household. This raises previous concerns about the family environment and Jacob’s safety, which has now come to the forefront given the boy’s unexplained absence since at least April 2025.
Following the October 1 visit, Jacqueline Pritchett was detained and subsequently subjected to a psychiatric evaluation due to indications of mental illness. A Family Court hearing on October 10 resulted in her being held for contempt after repeatedly invoking her Fifth Amendment rights, which has elicited legal challenges from her representatives claiming unlawful detention.
The NYPD has categorized Jacob as missing and is actively seeking assistance from the public. In a concerted effort to find him, authorities released sketches and a computer-generated image of the boy along with photographs of his mother. Furthermore, in early October, law enforcement conducted searches at a landfill linked to a dumpster near the Pritchett residence, following reports of an overpowering odor, suggesting that this case may have taken a grim turn.
The complexities surrounding this situation underscore the urgent need for community vigilance and law enforcement support as the investigation remains ongoing. Media News Source continues to follow this story closely, advocating for Jacob’s safe return and the responsible resolution of the issues at hand.
