Mother of missing autistic boy released from custody as investigation into child’s disappearance continues.

A Brooklyn woman, Jacqueline Pritchett, who spent two months in jail for declining to disclose information regarding her missing autistic son, was ordered to be released by a judge. The ruling came after the court acknowledged that Pritchett was being punished for exercising her constitutional rights.

Pritchett, who is 50 years old and reportedly suffers from mental health issues, must appear in Family Court again next week, where she will face questioning about her son, Jacob Pritchett. Jacob, an 11-year-old nonverbal child, has been missing since at least April 2025.

The events leading to Pritchett’s incarceration began on October 1, when police and a caseworker from the Administration for Children’s Services visited her residence in Brownsville, Brooklyn. Their visit was prompted by a report concerning Jacob’s welfare. However, upon their arrival, no evidence of Jacob was found. During the encounter, Pritchett allegedly made unusual statements, asserting that she had never had children and claiming to be a virgin. According to police sources and court documents, she further expressed a belief that she was Jesus Christ, attributing the toys found in her home to herself.

The authorities are increasingly concerned for Jacob’s safety, suspecting that he may have come to harm. The New York City Police Department has classified him as a missing person and has sought public assistance in locating him. They released a police sketch, a computer rendering, and a photograph of Pritchett in an effort to garner information on Jacob’s whereabouts.

Following her evaluation at Brookdale Hospital, Pritchett was jailed based on a Family Court contempt warrant after she repeatedly invoked her Fifth Amendment right, refusing to respond to inquiries about her son. On Tuesday, Supreme Court Justice Margaret Martin found merit in the argument made by Pritchett’s legal team, indicating that Family Court Judge Dawn Orsatti had unlawfully detained her merely for asserting her rights. Justice Martin emphasized that Pritchett was entitled to refrain from answering questions that could lead to self-incrimination.

Subsequently, Justice Martin ordered her immediate release. The city Law Department, which had previously opposed Pritchett’s release and argued for upholding the Family Court contempt warrant, stated that they are evaluating their next steps in this case. The ongoing situation raises critical questions about the intersection of parental rights, mental health issues, and the wellbeing of vulnerable children in similar circumstances.