Left inset: Antonio Pierce (Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office). Right inset: Nnakai Pratt (Georgia Bureau of Investigation). Background: The apartment building on the 100 block of Valley Hill Road in Clayton County, Ga., where Antonio Pearce alleges his son Nnakai Pratt was kidnapped (WAGA).
Authorities in Georgia doubt a father’s claim that his 6-month-old son was abducted on Sunday during a gunpoint robbery, describing the account as “highly questionable.” Police now suspect the father might be involved in the child’s disappearance.
“As the investigation into the missing child advanced, detectives became suspicious due to inconsistent testimony along with physical evidence suggesting possible foul play,” the Clayton County Police Department stated in a press release on Monday.
Antonio Pearce, from Riverdale, reportedly contacted police on Sunday at approximately 8:18 a.m., asserting that his son, Nnakai Pratt, had been abducted during an armed robbery. He claimed the child was in a car seat and taken by multiple assailants who then left “in an unknown direction,” according to the CCPD statement.
Pearce’s narrative purportedly fell apart while he was interrogated by the police, leading to his arrest on unrelated charges, including marijuana distribution and a violation involving child restraint.
“Currently, the circumstances surrounding baby Nnakai Pratt’s disappearance are highly questionable, and CCPD Detectives have identified his father as a suspect in the child’s sudden disappearance,” the CCPD statement reads.
Searches have been conducted at Pearce’s apartment complex and in nearby wooded areas, yet they’ve revealed “no findings,” according to cops. K-9 search and rescue teams have been deployed, to no avail.
“Several search warrants have been served at locations CCPD Detectives believe are relevant to this case,” CCPD officials allege. “However, those did not yield baby Pratt’s location either.”
Nnakai, who was still missing as of Tuesday afternoon, reportedly has a twin sibling who is safe and with their mother. A car near Pearce’s home has been taken away by police and is being probed by investigators.
“I’ve seen them out here just searching,” neighbor Meshia Sikes told local Fox affiliate WAGA.
“They’re actively going into the bushes. I’ve seen them looking into the trash can down there,” Sikes said. “This is also disturbing to have and keep waking up, to see we’re still looking for a 6-month baby that can’t fend for himself.”
Tracy Karch, another neighbor, told WAGA, “For such a little child, helpless, I don’t think there’s going to be a good end to this. Everyone knows it.”
A woman who is connected to Pearce was reportedly taken into custody and questioned over Nnakai’s disappearance, but has not been arrested or charged. Pearce is being held without bond for the unrelated charges.
