At AmoMama, we love documenting stories that help raise awareness around pertinent issues, and today’s story sheds light on a similar theme. It’s a story of heartbreak, excruciating pain, and betrayal that fortunately steered toward a comparatively happy ending.
A DRIVE WITH HIS MOM
Every year, people eagerly wait for the holiday season, particularly children. Like most kids his age, a little boy looked forward to Christmas time and couldn’t wait to celebrate the festive occasion. But unbeknownst to him, the future had a surprise in store for him.
He sat in the car just two days before Christmas in 2020 as his mom drove toward the Hope Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Ohio. After some time, his mother stopped the vehicle, and the boy thought they would make a brief stopover.
THINGS TOOK AN ODD TURN
But as soon as he stepped out, his mom set the car into motion, and the blue vehicle raced away from the cemetery. The little boy was utterly shocked and did the first thing that came to his mind.
Like Tony, many kids face the threat of abandonment, both as infants and youngsters.
He started running after the speeding car as fast as his legs would allow, thinking that his mom might have forgotten about him. His puppy also ran after him, but they weren’t quick enough to stop the moving vehicle or catch up with it.
A picture showing the graves in the Hope Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Ohio. | Source: youtube.com/Daily Mail
A picture showing the graves in the Hope Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Ohio. | Source: youtube.com/Daily Mail
SPOTTING THE LITTLE KID
Unbeknownst to the little boy, a stranger spotted him and his dog and was deeply touched by the heartbreaking sight. According to sources, several witnesses saw a blue car speeding away from the cemetery with a boy and dog chasing after it on December 23, 2020.
Then, the witnesses alerted the local police, hoping that the officers would be able to help the kid. At 12:16 p.m. on the same day, the Hinckley Police Department, Ohio, responded to the call for a reported abandoned child. Chief David P. Centner wrote on the HPD’s Facebook page:
“As she [the witness] drove around the vehicle and stopped, she observed the vehicle drive away at a high rate of speed. It was then that she observed a little boy running after the car followed by a dog. The vehicle left the cemetery and went west on SR303 towards Brunswick.”
SAFE AND SOUND
Per HPD, the little boy was taken into protective custody, and the officers contacted Medina County Children Services. He told the investigator that his first name was Tony and was able to give his parents’ first names as Katy and David.
Tony was about three years old at the time and in sound physical condition. He was approximately three feet tall, weighed 40 lbs, and had short brown hair and blue eyes. The Hinckley Police Department’s Facebook post further read:
“Below is a picture of Tony, anyone with information as to the identity of our little friend, his parents or other relatives are asked to contact the Hinckley Police Department at 330-278-7162 or the Medina County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center at 330-725-6631.”
REUNITED AT LAST
Shortly afterward, Tony was placed in a loving foster home in Medina County while the police attempted to find his parents. A relative saw the kid’s photo on Facebook and contacted his father. Tony’s dad called the police and said he was in his mom’s care when he was abandoned.
Per Fox 13, the little boy was temporarily placed in his uncle and aunt’s care while the police continued their investigation. Officer Centner shared a few updates on Facebook regarding the case. The final update informed everyone about Tony and his pet pooch’s condition. It said:
“We wanted to provide one final update on this case to let everyone know that Tony, and his dog, were quickly reunited with his father and are both doing great!”
JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS
According to HPD, Tony’s mom was taken into custody after spending time in medical care. Many people stepped forward to brighten the little boy’s holiday season after the heart-rending incident by donating gifts and clothing. Chief Centner wrote on Facebook:
“From all of us at HPD we want to thank everyone for your kindness, thoughts, prayers and overwhelming love. Our lobby is full from the gifts that have been dropped off.”
The HPD cop further added that he planned to make one final stop at Tony’s place with Santa Claus and a sleigh loaded with Christmas goodies. Thanks to the vigilant and kind-hearted witnesses and police officers, Tony survived a nerve-wracking situation.
Like Tony, many kids face the threat of abandonment, both as infants and youngsters. In 2008, a safe-haven law was passed in the U.S., hoping to provide relief to parents in crisis. Since then, many loving foster families have stepped forward to welcome displaced kids.
One such family was that of Cathy and Calvin Bishop from Nashville, Tennessee. After raising four kids of their own, the Bishops became empty-nesters and started working with Catholic Charities. When asked why they chose this path, Calvin expressed:
“It’s for the kids. If we can help those kids get into a home and help them grow and have a life they otherwise would not have, getting to do that … well, I guess I don’t have the words to describe it. It’s just a real pleasure.”
While the safe-haven programs might help curb America’s child abandonment issue to some extent, many complexities still need to be addressed. Still, it’s heartwarming to see people like the Bishops who make a difference by helping little children like Tony.
