Body Of Autistic Boy Reported Abducted Found At Florida Country Club

The body of an autistic boy reportedly abducted outside a Home Depot was found at a Florida country club on Friday, ending an overnight search by police.

“The Florida Amber Alert for Alejandro Ripley has been canceled,” the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said in a statement. “We are very sad to report that the child was found deceased.”

Alejandro, 9, reportedly was abducted around 8:50 p.m. Thursday while out with his mother in Kendale Lakes, Florida, just outside Miami. Patricia Ripley, 47, told police she was cut off and stopped on the road by two men driving a light blue, four-door sedan. The men allegedly ran to Ripley’s car and demanded drugs, but Ripley told them she didn’t have anything. She said the men then grabbed her phone and Alejandro before driving off.

Ripley described the two men as black males, one of whom was allegedly wearing all black clothing, had his hair in cornrows, and wore a bandana “as a face mask.”

A statewide Amber Alert was issued at 12 a.m. Friday calling for Alejandro’s safe return.

Miami-Dade police said Alejandro’s body was found near a small lake at Miccosukee Golf and Country Club, a few miles from where he was taken. The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, which runs the country club, said they are fully cooperating with the investigation.

Police have asked anyone with information about Alejandro’s whereabouts after his abduction or who could help identify the alleged kidnappers to contact police as soon as possible.