Missing 5-Year-Old from Tavares Found Safe After Amber Alert
Breaking news out of Lake County brings a collective sigh of relief: five-year-old Jace Saunders, who was the subject of a statewide Amber Alert, has been found safe. The alert was issued early Monday morning following a tense series of events involving his reported abduction in Tavares, Florida. Authorities have confirmed that the child, who is semi-verbal and diagnosed with autism, is now in custody of the Department of Children and Families (DCF). His grandmother, Kelly DaSilva, has been apprehended and is currently being questioned by law enforcement.
The situation unfolded on Sunday afternoon when police were dispatched to retrieve Jace as part of an ongoing DCF investigation. Initially, Jace was supposed to be with a relative, but upon arrival, officers discovered he wasn’t there. A family friend, Mitchell Morris, was reportedly last seen giving the boy a ride on a golf cart. Instead of returning Jace to his designated guardianship, Morris allegedly handed the child over to DaSilva at Summerall Park. Authorities believe DaSilva then drove off with Jace in a black Honda Accord.
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As the search intensified, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement issued the Amber Alert, warning the public of the potential danger to Jace. The alert included a description of the child’s clothing—dark pajama pants and a black long-sleeved shirt with a multicolored graphic—and emphasized his autism diagnosis. Law enforcement urged the public not to approach DaSilva but to immediately report any sightings.
By Monday morning, the effort culminated successfully. Detectives located DaSilva and Jace at the Lady Lake Police Department, though it remains unclear if she surrendered voluntarily. Alongside DaSilva’s arrest, Morris and Jace’s parents, Taylor Judy and Brandon Saunders, were also detained for interference with child custody, reflecting the broader complexity of this case.
Thankfully, despite the circumstances, Jace was found unharmed. This incident underscores the critical role of Amber Alerts and swift law enforcement action in safeguarding vulnerable children.
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