The grandparents of an 8-year-old Washington boy who hasn’t been seen missing for nearly eight months are reportedly facing charges as the FBI’s Seattle office joins in the search.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, the Vancouver Police Department conducted a welfare check at Breadson John’s home on June 17, 2022, after community members were concerned. Although little details are known at this time, the FBI announced on January 23 that it has joined the investigation.
The Chronicle reports that Brxsan’s family members told investigators that the child isn’t missing but they refuse to say where he is, according to officials.
“I don’t believe that law enforcement has ever laid eyes on him,” Steve Bernd, a spokesman in the FBI’s Seattle office, said.
Brxsan reportedly lives at the Walnut Grove Landing apartments in Vancouver with his grandparents, Masterino Machuo and Refoela Refalopei. Officials said the grandparents have not been cooperative during the investigation.
In December, police charged the grandparents with custodial interference.
“If it was me, and the authorities were looking for my child, I’d be handing over as many new photos as I could to help them find him,” Bernd added.
“That’s one of the things that shines the light on [the question of] why these caregivers are not giving us more details. They keep on insisting that he’s not missing. Well, then, where is he?”
Police said the only photos they have of Brxsan were found on Facebook and are over a year old at this point. His description, police said, is probably different now.
On June 17, 2022, the Vancouver Police Department in Vancouver, Washington, attempted to conduct a welfare check at the residence of Breadson John, but were unable to locate him. He has also been known to use the name ‘Brxsan’. Help the #FBI find him: https://t.co/8MHzEYrnak pic.twitter.com/IQqeE2zjHA
— FBI Most Wanted (@FBIMostWanted) January 23, 2023
School records at the Vancouver Public School District indicate that Brxsan has never been enrolled at a school in the district. Investigators reportedly added that police did not see Brxsan during the 2022 welfare check.
Oregon Live reports that a neighbor who previously saw Brxsan playing outside last year became concerned when the child stopped coming outside around May or early June.
Bernd said that at this point, police don’t have any evidence that a crime has been committed. The boy’s parents purportedly traveled to Micronesia last year and have not returned.
Breadson is described as Pacific Islander with brown eyes and black hair. He was born in Hawaii and can speak both English and Trukese/Chuukese.
According to the FBI Seattle office, Breadson could have ties to Arizona, Hawaii, Washington, and the “Truk/Chuuk Islands in the Federated States of Micronesia,” Fox 13 reports.
“If you have any information concerning this case, please contact your local FBI office, the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or you can submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.,” the FBI wrote.
Tipsters can also contact Vancouver Police Detective James Dewey at 360-487-7446, or email at james.dewey@cityofvancouver.us.
The story is developing. Check back for updates.
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[Featured image: FBI]
