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Missing Florida Boy Found At St. Patrick's Cathedral

2010_04_missingboy.jpg A missing three-year-old boy from Florida was found at St. Patrick's Cathedral last night. Nathaniel Fons had a note in his pocket with "his name, his mother's name, and the name of the detective investigating this case in Flagler County, Fla," according to WCBS 2, which adds that little Nathaniel is now "safe and unharmed after a whirlwind two days that apparently included a crime spree, arrest and cross-country journey."

Apparently his mother Erin Comeau and her boyfriend were arrested for counterfeiting when they were caught using a fake $100 bill in Florida on Sunday. The Daily News reports, "A sharp-eyed convenience store clerk spotted the phony bill and saw Comeau - who had numerous warrants out for her arrest - and the boyfriend drive away in a stolen RV with New York plates." She said Nathaniel was with her friends, Eleanor Black, 29, and William Scott, 32.

Two days later, police say a woman brought Nathaniel to St. Patrick's, telling a guard that she needed to see a priest. When he said she would need to go the rectory, the Post reports, "The jittery woman then stuffed a piece of paper in the boy's pocket and fled. The frightened, crying boy pulled out the note and gave it to the guard." Police are now looking at surveillance footage from outside the church.

The boy's paternal grandfather Donald Fons and his wife had been fighting for custody of Nathaniel. Fons told the Post he was overjoyed his grandson was okay and said of where the child was left, "A church isn't too bad. To tell the truth, I don't give a darn where he was dropped off, as long as he's safe." New York Archdiocese spokesman Joseph Zwilling said, "Thank goodness the people knew enough that St. Patrick's is a place that a child can be taken care of and be safe."

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Comments [rss]

  • Whammo

    Wasn't there a nice safe whorehouse or drug den they could have left the boy safe at?

  • nohateparade

    how is it possible that this three-year-old tyke has lived a more adventurous life than i? i blame terrorists.

  • 9illy

    One time when I was maybe 12 years old I was on this youth group field trip at St. Patrick's and I got separated from my group and they left without me and when I realized I was alone (keep in mind that I'm a totally sheltered upstate bumpkin who knew no one in the City at the time) I asked the attendant if I could use a phone to call my parents (pre cell-phone era) and they told me they couldn't let me use the phone and that there was a pay-phone down the block. Maybe 12 is considered no longer a child. I don't know. I thought that was rather unhelpful and un-church-like of them. Luckily my group realized I was missing not long after I did and came back to find me and all was well.

  • theboneranger

    bigot comments.

  • chuzzlewit

    +1 for correct use of bigot

  • theboneranger

    bigotrious.

  • chuzzlewit

    sp. tsk tsk.

  • theboneranger

    bigotritious.

  • Jamie McDonald

    Bigotastic!

  • CR

    First time on the internet, eh?

  • chuzzlewit

    thank god that poor child was rescued from the church.

  • Splicer

    The important thing is that this boy is safe. Happy ending.

  • evbo

    New York Archdiocese spokesman Joseph Zwilling said, "Thank goodness the people knew enough that St. Patrick's is a place that a child can be taken care of and be safe."

    Provided the priests are kept away from said child.

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