7 Year Old New Bedford Boy Found Safe

A New Bedford boy is safe after a nerve racking morning sent police, firefighters and the general public searching for the missing child.

Initial police reports (that can be heard below)

suggested that the boy was 5 years old and was dropped off in a cab at the Hathaway School in New Bedford at 8:05am...only to find that the school was closed for Good Friday.  According to the Standard Times, police now know that the boy was dropped off by a family friend, realized the school's doors were locked, and panicked when he saw his ride drive away.  A nearby woman, who reported the incident to police, says she tried to talk to the boy...but he was afraid of strangers and ran away.

A boy matching the missing child's description, clothing and backpack was later found by police at a nearby home, but the family was not forthcoming with police...and the search continued.

After missing for 3 hours, a listener contacted Fun 107 via our Facebook page.  She told us that the story she heard on Fun 107 was extremely similar to a story that she had seen on her friend's Facebook page.  Fun 107 immediately sent this screen shot to New Bedford Police (pictured below).

Police revisited the home and confirmed that the boy was, in fact, the child that had been spotted running away from the Hathaway School earlier that morning.

New Bedford Police are now confirming that the missing child has been located and is safe.  Police indicated that the child was new to the school district.

New Bedford Public Schools also confirmed that the boy was, in fact, a student at the Hathaway School.  A spokesperson says the school reached out to every family at the school to help locate the boy.  The boy's family was unaware that Good Friday was a school holiday.

Mass State Police also corrected their earlier reports that the child was 5 years old.  He turned 7 years old today.

The boy's mother told Fun 107 that members of the New Bedford Police Department later dropped off a race car track to him to celebrate his 7th birthday.  She also expressed her gratitude to the police, to Fun 107, and to the community for their efforts today.